Space Force Captures Rare Photo of X-37B Space Plane in Action

X-37B Space Plane Conducts Experimental Aerobraking Maneuvers

The United States Space Force has published a rare photo of the secretive X-37B space plane, taken from a camera mounted on the spacecraft while it was high above the Earth. This is only the second time the X-37B has been spotted in space, with the first instance being its deployment from a Falcon Heavy’s upper stage during its December 2023 launch.

Experimental Aerobraking Maneuvers

The Space Force snapped the photo during experimental "first-of-kind" aerobraking maneuvers, which aim to safely change the plane’s orbit using minimal fuel. The Air Force explained in October that this process would involve a series of passes using the drag of Earth’s atmosphere, and once complete, the plane would resume its other experiments before de-orbiting.

X-37B’s Seventh Mission

This is the X-37B’s seventh mission, with its sixth mission concluding in November 2022, lasting about two-and-a-half years (or 908 days) and being its longest mission to date. Prior to its launch, the Space Force described mission goals that included operating in new orbital regimes and testing future space domain awareness technologies. The mission also involved an onboard NASA experiment involving plant seeds’ radiation exposure during long spaceflight missions.

Conclusion

The X-37B’s experimental aerobraking maneuvers demonstrate the Space Force’s commitment to advancing the capabilities of its spacecraft and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space. As the X-37B continues to evolve and improve, it is likely to play an increasingly important role in the United States’ space-based operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the X-37B space plane?
A: The X-37B is a secretive space plane developed by the United States Air Force.

Q: What is the purpose of the X-37B’s aerobraking maneuvers?
A: The X-37B’s aerobraking maneuvers aim to safely change its orbit using minimal fuel.

Q: How long has the X-37B been in operation?
A: The X-37B has been in operation since its first mission, which began in 2010.

Q: What is the X-37B’s longest mission to date?
A: The X-37B’s longest mission to date was its sixth mission, which lasted about two-and-a-half years (or 908 days).

Supporting Student Mental Health with AI-Powered Chatbot

Introducing Sonny, the Wellbeing Companion

As school districts struggle to support the mental health of their students, a startup called Sonar Mental Health has built a "wellbeing companion" called Sonny to help. Sonny is a chatbot that relies on a combination of human staff and AI. When students text their questions to Sonny, the AI suggests a response, but it’s humans who are ultimately responsible for the message.

How Sonny Works

Sonar signed its first school partnership in January 2024 and says it’s now available to more than 4,500 middle and high school students across nine districts. The company says the chats are currently being monitored by a team of six people with backgrounds in psychology, social work, and crisis-line support.

CEO’s Clarification

CEO Drew Bavir told the Journal that he makes it clear to students and schools that Sonny isn’t a therapist, and that Sonar staffers will work with schools and parents to find therapists for students when appropriate.

Addressing the Counselor Shortage

A big reason why this approach might appeal to school districts is a current shortage in counselors. The Education Department says 17% of high schools don’t have a high school counselor at all. This shortage can make it difficult for schools to provide adequate mental health support to their students.

Conclusion

Sonny, the wellbeing companion, offers a potential solution to this problem by providing students with a convenient and accessible way to get help when they need it. By combining AI and human support, Sonar Mental Health is helping to bridge the gap in mental health services and support for students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Sonny?
A: Sonny is a chatbot that relies on a combination of human staff and AI to provide support and guidance to students.

Q: How does Sonny work?
A: When students text their questions to Sonny, the AI suggests a response, but it’s humans who are ultimately responsible for the message.

Q: Is Sonny a therapist?
A: No, Sonny is not a therapist. Sonar staff will work with schools and parents to find therapists for students when appropriate.

Q: How many students can Sonny support?
A: Sonar says Sonny is currently available to more than 4,500 middle and high school students across nine districts.

Hades II Just Got a Major Update, and It’s Better Than Ever

A New Region and Boss, and a Whole Lot More

I jumped back into Hades II, the action-packed roguelike from Supergiant Games, after its second major update, and I’m impressed by the progress the studio has made. The update added a new region, a new boss, and a ton of smaller details that have made the game feel even better to play.

The Big Additions

The big additions are impressive. Hades II initially launched with six regions – four for an Underworld route and two for a "surface" route – and with each major update, Supergiant has added a new region with new enemies, characters, and music to round out that surface route. The first major update, which came out in October, added the game’s first new region, Mount Olympus, and it feels as epic as Mount Olympus should. It has grand architecture, fearsome enemies, and a fiery boss fight against Prometheus, all backed by an incredible orchestral soundtrack.

Witch-y Mechs and More

That update also added the game’s sixth and final weapon – a witch-y, Hades-style interpretation of a mech suit. Seriously: your primary attack is punching baddies with giant fists while your special attack shoots projectiles that home in on nearby targets. You also have cool wings.

Smaller But Significant Changes

In the second major update, there’s a new region and boss, too, but I’ve also noticed a lot of smaller details that feel just as impactful. For example, the Altar of Ashes, a place where you pick from various passive effects in the form of arcana cards that can help your runs, got a visual redesign to add intricately-illustrated custom cards. (One of them features Theseus and the Minotaur, who you may remember as bosses from the first Hades, in thongs, lol.) I also spotted a charming new portrait for Melinoë, the game’s protagonist, that added some levity to a character that’s usually pretty serious.

A Game that’s Getting Better with Time

Overall, the changes have made the game feel better to play over time – and browsing patch notes, Supergiant uses an emoji to indicate which changes are inspired by community feedback, which I think is a good way to acknowledge how players are contributing to the game, which is one of the main benefits of this type of early access release. (I should also acknowledge that Hades II has the advantage of building from the already-great foundation of the first Hades.)

Conclusion

Hades II might not launch in 1.0 for a long time. Supergiant hasn’t committed to a timeframe for that, and it’s still working on a third major update that’s set to release "some months from now." Because of the success of Supergiant’s other games, like Bastion and Transistor, the studio probably doesn’t need to rush. But given how it’s treated Hades II’s early access so far, I’m fine if Supergiant takes its time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Hades II still in early access?
A: Yes, Hades II is still in early access and is expected to continue to receive updates and improvements.

Q: How often do I need to play to keep up with the changes?
A: It’s not necessary to play constantly to keep up with the changes, but frequent play sessions can help you stay current with the latest updates.

Q: Is Hades II worth playing?
A: Yes, Hades II is worth playing, even in its current state, due to its engaging gameplay and constant improvements.

1X Unveils its Latest Home Robot, Neo Gamma

Norwegian robotics firm 1X unveiled its latest home robot, Neo Gamma, on Friday. The humanoid system will succeed Neo Beta, which debuted in August. Like its predecessors, the Neo Gamma is a prototype designed for testing in the home environment. Images of the robot show it performing a number of household tasks like making coffee, doing the laundry, and vacuuming.

A Softer, Friendlier Design

Neo Gamma represents a softer side of the humanoid industry — both figuratively and literally. 1X has built the robot to be welcoming, with a friendlier design and a suit made of knitted nylon. The latter is designed to reduce potential injuries that might arise from robot-to-human contact.

A Unique Approach

Neo Gamma arrives amid a sea of humanoids from companies like Agility, Apptronik, Boston Dynamics, Figure, and Tesla. While firms like Figure already have their robotic systems operating in a mock home environment within their lab, all have prioritized warehouse and factory deployment. 1X’s home-first approach makes it unique among its direct peers.

Challenges Ahead

Home robots have always been a tricky proposition. Beyond robotic vacuums produced by companies like iRobot, none have meaningfully penetrated the market. This isn’t from lack of trying — the technology simply isn’t there.

Safety Concerns

Home robots need to be useful, reliable, affordable, and significantly safer than their industrial counterparts. This is doubly the case given that age-tech is likely to be one of home humanoids’ key targets. As the average age of the population rises, independent living for older adults will become an increasingly important technology target.

AI and Teleoperation

Along with a softer shell, 1X points to advances in the Gamma’s on-board AI system as a key element in designing a safer robot. These systems need to be extremely aware of their surroundings so as to avoid causing potential harm to people or property. Teleoperation is an important part of the safety conversation, as well. While full autonomy is the end goal for most, it’s important that humans be able to take control of the system in a pinch, especially in the home.

Generative AI

Beyond its unique focus, 1X first crossed the radar of many in the industry when OpenAI was announced as an early backer. For many, the notion of embodied intelligence — AI with a physical presence — is the next logical step for the white-hot world of generative AI. OpenAI has since hedged its bets in the humanoid space, with both an investment in a competitor, Figure, as well as numerous rumors surrounding the ChatGPT maker’s own in-house robotics ambitions.

Conclusion

While we’re seeing the first humanoid deployments move beyond the pilot stage in industrial settings, these systems have a long way to go in terms of pricing, reliability, safety, and functionality before we can have a serious conversation about bringing them home.

FAQs

Q: How many Neo Gammas have been produced?

A: 1X has not disclosed how many Neo Gammas have been — or will be — produced over the course of the beta robot’s life.

Q: What is the purpose of the robot’s on-board AI system?

A: The AI system is designed to be extremely aware of its surroundings so as to avoid causing potential harm to people or property.

Q: What is the significance of teleoperation in the context of home robots?

A: Teleoperation is an important part of the safety conversation, as it allows humans to take control of the system in a pinch, especially in the home.

Q: What is the target market for home humanoids?

A: The target market for home humanoids is likely to be older adults, as the average age of the population rises, independent living will become an increasingly important technology target.