Proof-of-Concept Testing Begins on Promising Sustainable Fuel Engine

The Blue Condor team has finally begun flight testing using its experimental hydrogen fuel engine, taking their powered glider up to 30,000 feet for the first time ever. The effort dovetails into a plethora of projects, programs, and initiatives both in their partner Airbus' portfolio, but EU governments, too. The ZEROe project has a vested interest in studying the resulting hydrogen contrails left behind Blue Condor, while Aero Design Works eagerly awaits flight test data for their one-off custom hydrogen engine. The aircraft is operated by The Perlan Project, a group who've built a name for themselves in a hyperspecific niche of high-altitude, zero-emission aviation.

Launchpad Intact! 33 Raptor Engines Roaring! Hot Staging! and More

The long-awaited and bureaucratically delayed second flight of the SpaceX Starship finally took place early Saturday.... just a minute or two past the projected liftoff of 0700ET. The monstrous vehicle did not destroy the pad and surrounding facilities this time around, SpaceX having learned well from the the first go-around as all 33 Raptors lit off and continued producing propulsion until stage separation... one of the critical tests of this launch. This time around, the gang at SpaceX was trying to preserve as much launch momentum as possible (that could conceivably contribute to as much as a 10% increase in eventual payloads) by 'Hot Staging' -- a procedure whereby the sec