DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist
DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF
By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane
WORLD 1st NORMAL SMARTPHONE CALL TO SPACE
Source - AST Space Mobile and Stock
- AST Space Mobile of Midland, Texas says it just made the world's 1st earth to space phone call using an ordinary smartphone
- The 2-way call was made over ATT spectrum in the US and Rakuten Mobile in Japan along with engineers from Vodaphone, ATT and Ratuten
- The phone used was an ordinary Samsung Galaxy S 22 not modified in any way
- Why is this significant -- AST's massive prototype satellite of an unprecedented 673 sq, feet has the unique power capacity to enable it as the largest satellite in low Earth orbit
- 90% of the surface of the Earth has no cellular coverage
- The purpose of AST's BlueWalker 3 satellites is to start providing coverage to billions of people in underserved areas.
DUBAI COULD BE A GLOBAL LEADER IN FLYING CARS
- Dubai, which positions itself as a global innovation capital, is closing in on deploying all-electric flying cars, the XPENG X2, a flying car being developed by China's XPENG, to carry tourists around the city
- Experts say that flying cars carrying tourists in Dubai could be the future of fun sightseeing
- X2 is a 2-seat eVTOL with a maximum range on its battery of 35 minutes and can fly up to 80 mph
- Also can fly by remote control
- Powered by 4, independent battery packs
- Carbon filter body that's enclosed and has a very aerodynamic compact shape
- eVTOL with 2 propellers on each of the vehicle's 4 corners, where the wheels would be placed
- Expected to start flying tourists in Dubai in 2025 for tours hitting altitudes of 300 feet
- It is capable of flying at 3200 feet
- Priced at the level of luxury cars and is expected to gain a market for personal travel, carrying tourists and for emergency services.
For more news stories like this, FLIGHT PATH TO THE FUTURE
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