⤴⤵ Up Wing/Down Wing #48

A curated selection of pro-progress and anti-progress news items from the week that was

In case you missed it ...

🌑 Did America just lose the Moon? (Monday)

✨⚡ The Up Wing combo of AI and energy (Wednesday)

⏩ Debating 'progress': A Quick Q&A with … Samuel Matlack of New Atlantis (Thursday)

🚀 How SpaceX is making a space Mayflower voyage possible: Flashback Friday (Friday)

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⤴ Up Wing Things

🌙 Blue Origin unveils ambitious lunar plans. Blue Origin is gearing up to support long-term human presence on the Moon with its new lunar landers and the innovative “Transporter” tanker. The Transporter will haul hydrogen and oxygen to lunar orbit, which is crucial for sustained missions. The Mark 1 lander, set to fly this year, is designed to carry cargo and can deliver up to 3 metric tons to the Moon’s surface. The larger Mark 2, developed with NASA’s Sustaining Lunar Development contract, can land much heavier loads. Blue Origin aims to land crews on the Moon by decade’s end, partnering with NASA’s Artemis program to open the solar system’s next frontier. (Space)

🛠️ AI startup brings smart scheduling to plumbers and electricians. AI is making inroads into skilled trades, thanks to startups like Netic. This San Francisco-based company was founded in 2024 and is backed by $20 million in funding. It offers an AI platform that helps home-service businesses — plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs — automate appointment booking, customer outreach, and technician scheduling. Netic’s tech uses generative AI to anticipate maintenance needs and optimize service capacity. While AI can't replace skilled labor, it’s helping companies like HB Solutions Group boost efficiency and responsiveness. As their CEO puts it, AI helps balance staff capacity with customer demand — though human touch still leads the way. (WSJ)