It's not the miniature robotic space shuttle that NASA's planning to send into orbit this month, but another of the space agency's unmanned vehicles has edged closer to its beginning its mission, with the "nearly autonomous" Global Hawk aircraft having completed a key test flight bright and early on April 2nd.

ENGADGET: NASA's unmanned Global Hawk completes key test flight

Yet this is a race, and whoever is the first to fulfill various objectives, such as being the first to send a man into orbit or a probe to Mars, garners more prestige.

FORBES: The Return of "Buzz Aldrin's Race into Space" Game

During the simulation of the 2029 encounter with Apophis, it became clear that under the right conditions, the asteroid would be deflected into a new orbit that would send it back to threaten Earth exactly seven years later.

ECONOMIST: The American Association for the Advancement of Science

And once that desired state is achieved, the included IR transmitter (which plugs into your smartphone or tablet), will send a signal to the Orbit, effectively giving it flight.

ENGADGET: Puzzlebox Orbit mind-on: brainwaves and hack-friendly helicopters (video)