There’s growing expectation that SpaceX could launch the mighty Starship rocket as early as Sunday, October 13.

SpaceX was informed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last month that it was unlikely to receive a launch permit until late November as the regulator needed time to complete work on its flight launch assessment.

But sources close to the situation have told Reuters, CNBC, and others that the FAA could give the green light any day now, paving the way for a launch from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas on Sunday, which the company recently announced as its target launch date.

“A person familiar with the matter said Tuesday that SpaceX’s seemingly aggressive target is possible because the FAA’s review process has sped up,” CNBC said in its report.

In a further twist that increased expectation of an early launch, the FAA removed any mention of its November estimate in its most recent statement to the media, saying simply that it will “make a licensing determination once SpaceX has met all licensing requirements.”

The FAA was heavily criticized by SpaceX last month when the Elon Musk-led spaceflight company learned that it might have to wait until late November before it could test the Starship again.

It said that the FAA was taking way too long to do the work and that it needed to move ahead with the flights so that it could meet NASA’s timeline for the Artemis program, which would see Starship flying crew and cargo to the moon in the next few years.

In a lengthy blog post, SpaceX said it was “stuck in a reality where it takes longer to do the government paperwork to license a rocket launch than it does to design and build the actual hardware,” adding that it “directly threatens America’s position as the leader in space.”

Responding, the FAA said last month that SpaceX “must meet all safety, environmental, and other licensing requirements prior to FAA launch authorization,” explaining that SpaceX’s current license authorized the Starship’s fourth flight and also allows for multiple flights of the same vehicle configuration and mission profile. But it added that SpaceX had chosen to modify both the configuration and the profile for the fifth launch, triggering a more in-depth review.

It also said that SpaceX had submitted new information in mid-August detailing how the environmental impact of the next flight “will cover a larger area than previously reviewed,” adding that “this requires the FAA to consult with other agencies,” and would therefore take more time than originally expected.

If the FAA does give the nod in the coming days, it may be because it simply sped up its review process, or because SpaceX made adjustments to the flight configuration and profile.

The Starship last flew in June in a test that was its most successful to date. The fifth flight, if SpaceX sticks to its current plan, will for the first time attempt to “catch” the Super Heavy booster using giant mechanical arms as it returns to Earth shortly after delivering the upper-stage Starship spacecraft to orbit.

Google Meet is bringing some new options to make your life easier. Have you ever forgotten to activate the recording feature before initiating a scheduled video call? That won’t happen again thanks to new options to automatically record (and even transcribe) video calls in Google Meet.

Video calling services usually offer an option to record them. However, Meet is not the most friendly platform for forgetful people. It’s easy to realize after the meeting ends that you never enabled the recording feature. Fortunately, that just changed thanks to Google.

Google Meet now allows you to set the recording and transcription of video calls by default

Google is bringing three new options to Meet, one of which leverages the power of artificial intelligence for those with supported Gemini add-ons. First, there’s a new “Automatic recording” option available. You can locate it under Apps > Google Workspace > Google Meet > Meet video settings > Automatic recording.

The option does exactly what its name says, so there are no secrets regarding how it works. You can now automatically record meetings you couldn’t attend and review them later, for example. This may raise concerns about your privacy. However, Meet provides the option for any meeting participant to disable automatic recording if they find it uncomfortable.

The second new option, “Automatic transcription,” is also quite self-explanatory. It will generate a text transcript of everything the participants talk about during the meeting. If you want to ensure you don’t overlook any details, this tool is quite useful. As with the “Automatic recording” option, any participant in the call will be able to stop automatic transcription for privacy. The option can be found under Apps > Google Workspace > Google Meet > Meet video settings > Automatic transcription.

AI-powered note-taking by default is also available

Heavy users of Google Workspace services will know that there are Gemini add-ons available with different AI-powered capabilities. Some of those add-ons enable automatic generation of video meeting notes in summary form so you can quickly understand key points at a glance. Well, the third new feature in Meet allows you to configure Gemini to automatically take notes. The option will be available under Apps > Google Workspace > Google Meet > Meet video settings > Automatic note taking.

The three features mentioned above should already be available in Meet. Using the service with an organizational account may require the administrator to enable them.

When DJI revealed its tiny $200 Neo drone, I immediately saw how it could fit into my vlogger’s toolkit to supplement my Mini 4 Pro and Mavic 3 Pro. Flying those sophisticated drones is a whole thing that requires planning. But the Neo can be launched spontaneously to grab quick and fun shots, thanks to features like palm takeoff and voice control. That ease of use also makes it ideal for the social media influencers.

Though beginner-friendly, it’s quite powerful. You get features from DJI’s bigger drones like ActiveTrack, FPV capabilities and even support for DJI’s Mic 2. And forget about the fuzzy video you may have seen on other cheap drones. The Neo can record in sharp 4K, making it suitable for content creators who need affordable aerial video.

DJI

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The DJI Neo may be an inexpensive, beginner-friendly drone, but has powerful features like subject tracking and quick shots.

Pros

• Quick and maneuverable
• Inexpensive
• Includes high-end features
• Beginner friendly

Cons

• No vertical video
• Sounds like a banshee
• Top speeds require specific controller

$199 at Amazon

It’s not perfect though, as the Neo is noisy and lacks vertical video, something influencers will likely want. Still, it looked like the kind of product that could appeal to all types of people, even creators like myself who already have multiple drones. To see how it performed, we put it through a variety of scenarios from events to weddings — and even flying just for fun.

Design and features

With a softly sculpted design and protective propeller guards, the Neo gives off safe, friendly vibes. It’s DJI’s lightest drone by far at 135 grams, less than half the Mini 4’s heft, and is small enough to fit into a large jacket pocket. The device’s diminutive size also means it’s exempt from any drone license requirements.

The Neo has a rich feature set, but all you need to start flying is your hand. Simply place the Neo in your palm, press the new mode button at front and it’ll take off and perform one of six preprogrammed “smart shots.” Those are Follow (the drone tracks and follows you around), Dronie (it starts tight on your face then flies up and away from you), Circle (flies around you), Rocket (starts at face level and flies straight up), Spotlight (keeps you centered in the frame but doesn’t move) and Direction Track (for vlogging). After you complete the shot, stick out your hand under the Neo to land it.

Another great option for newbies is voice control, which lets you fly and record video by speaking into the Fly More app. I wasn’t able to try this feature in my initial hands-on tests, but it has now been enabled via a firmware update. You can either tap on the voice button to say a command or enable the wake word settings. Then, you can just say, “Hey Fly” to activate it.

For instance, saying the word “dronie” will activate the dronie flight pattern and start recording. You can then change parameters using commands like “closer,” “farther” and “higher.” It also includes the safety commands “land,” “stop” and “brake.”

The setting is a great way to give users some control over the social media-oriented quick shots without the need to touch a controller. It was straightforward to set up, and I found that it responded quickly and reliably to my commands. However, you’ll need to keep the phone’s mic close to your mouth when the Neo is nearby, or the propeller wailing will drown out your voice.

The Neo is also DJI’s first drone that can be piloted using a smartphone alone. Switching the app into manual mode brings up a touch screen with full maneuvering controls. It also offers a camera/video mode and return-to-home toggle. There’s a serious caveat to using it, though, as I’ll detail shortly. For more serious piloting, the Neo supports multiple DJI controllers (sold separately), including the RC N3 model that requires a smartphone. You can even use it as an FPV drone with DJI’s RC Motion 3 and DJI Goggles 3. Those controllers offer most of the features available on other DJI camera drones, like cinema, normal and sport modes, along with auto and manual video settings.

What you won’t see are any obstacle detection sensors, which is one reason the Neo is so cheap. The only crash protection measures are the camera’s subject detection AI, a downward facing IR landing sensor and a rugged design that resists minor accidents.

As for storage, there’s no microSD card slot, so the Neo relies on the 22GB of internal memory that holds 40 minutes of 4K footage or 55 minutes of 1080p video. You can transfer the files to a PC or other device via the rear USB-C charging port. Again, this is less than ideal, but it keeps the price down.

Performance

If you have low performance expectations for a 5-ounce, $200 drone, get ready to be pleasantly surprised — the Neo is maneuverable, fast and fun. It can hit speeds up to 18 mph in sport mode, which is half that of the Mini 4 Pro, but still at the upper end of this category. You can even fly it in fairly blustery winds up to 18 mph, though it could get blown into another county if you let it get too far away.

The Neo can also fly twice that speed in manual mode, another feature that arrived in a post-launch firmware update, but requires DJI’s FPV Controller 3. With that controller and the firmware update, I pushed it to its top speed. 36 mph is faster than any drone this size by far, but it never felt out of control. However, at that speed the noise level resembles a swarm of particularly irate hornets.

The FPV Controller 3 also opens up the possibility of acrobatic (acro) flying, letting you perform flips, spins and other maneuvers. That’s a lot of fun, especially knowing that the drone is not only crash resistant but costs just $200 — a pittance by drone standards. I’m not an acro pilot, but in the hands of an expert like quadmovr, the Neo can rip through some unbelievable moves.

For novices who want to try first-person video flying (FPV) but aren’t ready for the tricky-to-use Controller 3, DJI’s Goggles 3 and RC Motion 3 are better for FPV newbs. It’s certainly not as nimble and quick as the Avata 2, but it’s still a lot of fun. In fact, it’s a great learning tool for wannabe FPV pilots with either of those controllers, thanks to the durability and low price.

The Neo is ideal for event videography too, as you can maneuver it almost anywhere to get some cool or dramatic shots. At the same time, the propeller guards make it safe to use around people. Again, it’s very noisy, so it’s obviously not suitable to fly through something like a wedding or a best man’s speech.

The modes ActiveTrack, Spotlight and Point of Interest (POI) work just as they do on other DJI drones to track or follow you. A key mode for content creators is Direction Track, which lets you do walk-and-talk vlogging while keeping your face in view. With that setting, the Neo is usually flying backwards with no rear obstacle sensor, so you’ll need a clear path. When I tested this, the drone veered into some tree branches and was thrown off course, but it kept on flying.

I never try to crash drones on purpose, but did have a few mishaps. The Neo hit some trees before falling to the ground a couple of times, and bonked a hard interior floor on one occasion. It not only continued to function perfectly, but had nary a visible scratch, so DJI has done a good job with durability. That said, you can purchase a one-year insurance plan for the Neo at just $22, which covers accidents and loss of the drone.

With a controller and DJI’s O4 transmission, the Neo has a 6.2 mile line-of-sight range in the US, or 3.7 miles in Europe where transmission power is limited. That’s exactly half that of the Mini Pro 4, but pretty extraordinary given the size — though I’m not sure who’d ever want to fly such a lightweight drone that far away. I flew it about half a mile away with no loss of signal, and that was plenty far for my comfort level. Maximum altitude, meanwhile, is unlimited and set by the user.

When using smartphone Wi-Fi control, maximum range is just 165 feet, so it’s really just for indoor or nearby outdoor use. This is based on Wi-Fi limits, but it also effectively serves as a geofence for novices (the drone just stops and hovers if it gets out of Wi-Fi range). In addition, if you’re using the palm or voice control, altitude is limited to around 100 feet.

While small and light, the Neo’s 1,435mAh lithium-ion Intelligent Flight Batteries support up to 17 minutes of flying time, or around 13 to 14 minutes in the real world — not bad in this category. With the Neo alone, it takes an hour to charge a single battery directly within the drone. However, if you spring for the $289 combo kit (including the drone, two extra batteries and a three-battery charger), you can juice three batteries in that same 60 minutes.

Camera

The gimbal is tucked into a protective housing and can tilt up 60 degrees and down 90. The camera has a 1/2-inch 12-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide 13mm equivalent focal length and f/2.8 aperture — about what you’d expect on a decent smartphone.

The Neo’s video specs are weaker than other DJI drones, but I was pretty happy with my footage considering the price of the Neo. It can shoot 4K 30p video and 1080p at up to 60fps, certainly good enough for most social media users. It also supports 4K in a 4:3 aspect ratio at 30fps, or 1080p in the same aspect ratio but up to 60fps.

The camera doesn’t tilt sideways like it does on the Mini 4 Pro, which means it can’t do vertical video. That’s unfortunate considering the target market, but adding that capability would also increase complexity and, no doubt, the price. The best bet for social media users is to shoot in 4K and then crop to a 1080×1920 9:16 resolution.

There’s also no D-LogM capability to boost dynamic range as seen on most other DJI drones, and with such a small sensor, low-light capability is poor. However, video is sharp and color accurate, which is well above what you’d expect in this price range. The 12-megapixel photos are also good enough for hobbyists and social media users. I expect the average buyer taking aerial shots of their home, family and vacations will be more than pleased.

The Neo also incorporates DJI’s software-based RockSteady stabilization along with gimbal tilt stabilization. That should provide smooth enough video for most users, or you can disable the stabilization altogether and use DJI’s GyroFlow app in post for better results. The Neo also supports HorizonBalancing, providing level video even if the drone banks up to 45 degrees. Note that for the 4:3 video modes, there’s no electronic image stabilization, so you need to stabilize the footage later using GyroFlow or another app.

The Neo can even capture audio with your phone just by tapping the Fly More app’s audio record button. You’ll get better quality by connecting an external microphone or using DJI’s Mic 2. Since the Neo is extremely noisy, the Mic 2 will cancel out much of that prop screeching, leaving your voice clear and legible, albeit with some distortion.

Wrap-up

DJI’s Neo might be small in stature, but it can shoot good quality video and photos safely around people, and does so at a very reasonable price. It has clearly captured the public’s imagination, as it’s already been sold out on DJI’s site despite only being on sale for a couple of weeks.

Potential buyers range from novices up to experienced hands who want a small, people-friendly drone for Instagram stories and more. It’s ideal for TikTok and other creators because it can act as a robot videographer, helping you record content by yourself. The main issues you’ll have to live with are the noise, lack of vertical video and limited battery life.

For $200, or $289 if you opt for the combo kit with three batteries and a charger, the Neo is a no-brainer for many creators. The only real competition is the $350 HoverAir X1, which costs more and offers lower-resolution video. But by providing higher quality video for less money, the Neo is a better value.

As government and defense sectors increasingly lean on commercial services, opportunities for startups in dual-use technology have never been more promising. Yet, for young, agile companies, the challenge of entering such a highly regulated and traditional landscape is significant. How can emerging businesses compete with established primes for contracts and attention? And how can investors support these endeavors effectively?  

Even Rogers, CEO and co-founder of True Anomaly; Tim Solms, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace; and Mel Stricklan, executive director at Space Workforce for Tomorrow will take the stage to discuss these questions and more at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024.   

These three industry trailblazers, each with a wealth of experience in defense, space, and technology, will take to the Space Stage to unveil the key to breaking into the dual-use market. They’ll share powerful strategies for navigating government procurement, building impactful relationships across public and private sectors, and fostering the kind of dynamic talent pool that drives true innovation. Learn how startups can harness diverse expertise to not only compete but also thrive when up against industry giants in this high-stakes arena. If you’re ready to disrupt, this is the conversation you can’t afford to miss.

Meet the speakers

Even Rogers, CEO and co-founder of True Anomaly

Even Rogers has a rich background in military space operations. Before co-founding True Anomaly, he served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, leading teams of space operators, scientists, and engineers to enhance the performance of military systems. Even has authored foundational texts that guide U.S. military space operations and contributed to the U.S. Space Force’s inaugural doctrine, “Spacepower.” With a deep understanding of space security and sustainability, Even will discuss how True Anomaly leverages domain expertise and product development excellence to deliver industry-leading solutions for space defense.

Tim Solms, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace

Tim Solms brings a unique perspective as both a veteran of the U.S. Army and an experienced executive in technology and defense. With more than 20 years of executive leadership, Tim has led the transformation of major defense and government divisions, including roles at Microsoft and VMware. At Slingshot Aerospace, he oversees the development of innovative satellite tracking, space traffic coordination, and modeling tools that are critical to maintaining safety and operational efficiency in space. Solms will share his experience in aligning company strategy with the needs of government customers and his vision for how startups can effectively position themselves against larger competitors.

Melanie Stricklan, executive director of Space Workforce for Tomorrow

Melanie Stricklan has dedicated her career to advancing space technology and workforce development. As the co-founder and former CEO of Slingshot Aerospace, Melanie played a pivotal role in revolutionizing satellite tracking and space traffic coordination, ensuring safety for commercial, civil, and defense applications. With a 21-year career in the U.S. Air Force and a track record of leading spacecraft missions, Stricklan is a passionate advocate for workforce diversity and sustainability in space.

Don’t miss this discussion at Disrupt 2024

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain invaluable insights from industry leaders who have navigated and thrived in the dual-use space. Join us at Disrupt 2024 from October 28-30 in San Francisco to learn how to take your startup beyond the conventional and make your mark in government and defense markets. Secure your discounted tickets now and be part of the future of innovation.