Virgin Orbit’s First Rocket Drop from a Modified Boeing 747

Virgin Galactic sister company Virgin Orbit is one step closer to air-launching satellites. Their first-ever rocket drop test from a modified Boeing 747 carrier (named Cosmic Girl) was a notable success. The goal of the test was to enact and observe a clean, careful separation of a LauncherOne rocket payload and carrier craft. An orbital flight for the rocket is the next milestone they hope …

The End of Volkswagen Beetle Production

From an emblem of the ’60s to a global design icon, the Volkswagen Beetle surmounts the reputation of almost all other automobiles. The historic car’s identity, proportions and curves changed over time as more than 21 million units sold. This year, however, marks the end of the Beetle, as VW halts production at its Puebla, Mexico plant. Only time will tell if this is merely …

Kristalic Seeks to Provide “Cloud-Based Personal Memory Banks”

Using existing microphone-equipped devices (like AirPods and smartphones), Kristalic is an AI-powered assistant that can record conversations throughout your work day in order to then condense them into a memory bank that can be easily searched later. The startup—founded by Techstars Seattle alum Jos van der Westhuizen—aims to extract “only the most important information from a meeting” and can also send weekly updates. The company …