🛸 First-ever space-made HIV drug crystals touch down Earth near Utah

Plus: Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus becomes first American lander to reach the moon in over 50 years                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 February 23, 2024 | [Read Online]( In a historic achievement, California-based startup Varda Space Industries has successfully brought back samples of a drug produced in space. The company's capsule for manufacturing in space endured months of orbital restriction as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) denied re-entry. Upon securing the required authorizations, the re-entry capsule safely touched down in the Utah desert at the Utah Test and Training Range on Wednesday, February 21. Read more about how the parachutes guided the landing of the W-1 mission re-entry capsule, carrying the space-cultivated antiviral drug crystals in today’s [Must Read](. 🚨 IE’s Vital Component is your source for must-read engineering news all over. Get the week’s recommended content sent to you every Sunday by [subscribing now]([.]( 🔥 Today’s hot jobs as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: - [Software Engineer - Python BackEnd Engineer]( - [Senior Software Systems Engineer]( - [Software Engineer 3]( Good morning. I’m Shubhangi, editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s get into it! Reading time: 5 minutes Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe ✉]( IE+ SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest In Science And Engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free. [Subscribe]( HOT TOPICS - 🌄[Â]([Semi-transparent solar cells achieve record-breaking energy conversion]( - 👃🏽 [Doctors set to lead the way in knee joint repair with nasal cartilage therapy]( - ⚙️ [Quantum breakthrough: Non-Abelian anyons created for the first time]( MUST READ 💊[Â]([First-ever space-made HIV drug crystals touch down Earth near Utah]( In a significant milestone, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched the 264-pound (120-kilogram) inaugural mini-space drug facility into orbit on June 12. The crystallization process for Ritonavir, a drug used in HIV treatment, commenced in late June 2023. This innovative manufacturing occurred onboard the conical W-Series 1 satellite, which was mounted onto Rocket Lab's orbital Photon platform. [Read more >]( INNOVATION 🌘[Â]([Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus becomes first American lander to reach the moon in over 50 years]( Nearly 52 years after NASA's Apollo 17 mission, Odysseus, a privately built robotic lander, made history by softly landing near the lunar south pole, becoming the first non-governmental spacecraft to do so. In a video message, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson praised the achievement as a significant milestone for Intuitive Machines, the United States, and the world. [Read more >]( CULTURE 🔍[Â]([Google halts Gemini AI image generation over racial accuracy concerns]( Google's Gemini AI faces issues with image generation, leading to a temporary pause in the feature. The decision follows inaccuracies in depictions of historical figures and unexpected results in image requests. Google apologized and pledged immediate improvements, emphasizing its commitment to serving diverse global users. When questioned by Interesting Engineering, the AI assured that enhancements are underway and users will be notified of the feature's return in future updates. [Read more >]( PODCAST [🆕 New podcast The future of energy harvesting and battery-free devices]( Question of the day How do you feel about the first-ever HIV drug crystals made in space? [Excited - Revolutionary advancement in pharmaceutical manufacturing.]( [Fascinated - Innovative approach with vast potential.]( [Concerned - Wary of exaggerated claims until real-world efficacy is proven.]( [Skeptical - About the immediate benefits versus the investment.]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you about what aspect of Space Perspective's Excelsior capsule you are most excited about. Here are the results: 🟨⬜️️⬜️️⬜️️⬜️️⬜️️ Potentially democratize space travel. (13%) 🟨🟨⬜️️⬜️️⬜️️⬜️️ Excited to witness the breathtaking views of Earth from the edge of space. (25%) 🟨🟨🟨⬜️️⬜️️⬜️️ Eager to explore new possibilities for human space exploration. (29%) 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Curious to see carbon-neutral approach in space travel: (34%) “Processing materials in microgravity, or the near-weightless conditions found in space, offers a unique environment not available through terrestrial processing.” Varda Space Industries THINGS WE LOVE [[KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer] KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer $40.68]( [[Sony Wireless Bluetooth Speaker] Sony Wireless Bluetooth Speaker $58.00]( [[DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill] DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill $99.00]( [[Electric 2 Hole Punch] Electric 2 Hole Punch $39.99]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Nanoscale device allows brain chemistry observation at smallest level]( - [Composite image from telescopes showcases ‘stellar beads on a string’]( - [Siemens’ wind blades set sail to power over 1 million Scottish homes]( what else? ⚙️ To explore the wonders of mechanical engineering, get your [Mechanical]( 🔷 For all the week’s top engineering stories, subscribe to the [Vital Component]( 🛩️ For the latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more, subscribe to [Aerospace]( 🧑🏻‍🔧 For expert advice on engineering careers, subscribe to [Engineer Pros]( 🧠New: To get the latest AI news every Monday, subscribe to [AI Logs]( 🎬 For a weekly round-up of our best science, tech & engineering videos, subscribe to [IE Originals]( For our weekly premium newsletter and an ad-free experience, [sign up for IE+]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Give Feedback](mailto:emre.dagli@interestingengineering.com?subject=User%20feedback%20for%20the%20Blueprint) --------------------------------------------------------------- //link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/gIGIpUF6d1hGqcQjHe437kyVA6g1LfBq9HXC1ZND4y_KHdNGtW9Rjemv5T9JZONn9N6kE9FabNy8ENARvywendjBQSc8nkjJI3Jm-fN-jt97HCIFeLuaqvPij5Yj0LHjilTDSYJrwUtaG644J9qFkYtiC8DpaSOKaiPghzxB5H_gs98imCVnOH9wg2UsnuNeNWLjzsq4lXqZt_2FcsWo0SPKsNWrLmN4vQCmNVYshPJ_7MtE8FEyRdbOKTR48sNIYWyY9bCvEs4-W3DikWUhhQ/443/BC7JYUArRQmeu7JjNii9yQ/h44/SVHChxE5FXySOlvKMNBN_jivMo6BuLPWUMEDr7HYP7g//link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/oI2ds1eY3zrDzwM4HveOVRmeJ5i_p5i5KNVinJHZlhSkOHNfWq__msc9VRtNfnHyXddq6vzr5t6T6GYW7KJXdUpzzfGanFORrMI8zWICIfEjm4EeiJq4Bt8OPeELuqlXrJmS9s8Y30WqEmDFAZ00pe7FpWKrODUbtZv_BSP8JpZieyEN-kOHoNyORoXk2T3E5cVjSqV1NdUORmTOW3ySOmzInVeAsJQ9KT5CEDI9iPGtNg0JgCuUiTSo-38orTsd/443/BC7JYUArRQmeu7JjNii9yQ/h46/0uBkf0FP5HdlnA-q1pDV_i626nJT1eSOUywMNcEO_mU//link.mail.beehiiv.com/ss/c/gIGIpUF6d1hGqcQjHe437oAWXHY86pFVzUigyeO7aWaLPmh4WUXCw0RjhsSC7o2NbU_ca_kYL8MJJVyxd9lLLHnpv384io7Db-FZ5RsZytiT-YlGVF8fbTbGPt28XyPQwBGQ2AGbTq_P7JGGRajS4TUj-AlNkw9k9ssxW0KQT2ch4p6kdB0F47kP38eJw8T5lZ8CqKfJY-GpBTTpdbNnIjZ1PJEvAnDh6lfjalB7B3bpWoaL2kh07UR6WAG5nppU8TdkGEYS1mwMtTa5-UL7yw/443/BC7JYUArRQmeu7JjNii9yQ/h48/zrXvLLAdJF1g-nlUcrZ9yo1t6Unb1SHLlpA7BLBpSco Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here]( © 2024 The Blueprint 530 5th Ave New York, New York 10036, United States of America