Tag: Military
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Star Trek’s George Takei tweaks President Trump over Space Force’s trekky new seal
The seal for Star Trek’s fictional Starfleet Command has some design elements in common with the seal for the U.S. Space Force. (CBS / Space Force Images via Twitter) We don’t know whether Mr. Spock would have cocked an eyebrow over the Starfleet-like U.S. Space Force seal that was revealed by President Donald Trump today,…
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Farewell, Phantom Express: Boeing is pulling out of DARPA space plane program
An artist’s conception shows Boeing’s Phantom Express XS-1 space plane in flight. (Boeing Illustration) The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency says Boeing is dropping out of its Experimental Spaceplane Program immediately, grounding the XS-1 Phantom Express even though technical tests had shown the hypersonic space plane concept was feasible. “The detailed engineering activities conducted…
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After ownership change, Stratolaunch confirms that it’s still working on hypersonic vehicles
Stratolaunch’s swept-wing hypersonic testbed would be propelled by a liquid-fueled rocket engine. (Stratolaunch Illustration) It’s been three months since ownership of the Stratolaunch space venture was transferred from the late Seattle billionaire Paul Allen’s estate to a private equity firm, but the new owners say they’re still pursuing one of the old owner’s dreams: hypersonic…
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Space Force flies through Twitter flak after unveiling camo uniforms in earthy tones
The U.S. Space Force puts its own nametape on what looks like a standard-issue woodland camouflage uniform. (U.S. Space Force Photo via Twitter) The newly minted U.S. Space Force unveiled its uniform on Friday — and defended its fashion statement against Twitter criticism that the camouflage color scheme should have been more spacey. Less than…
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President Trump signs the Space Force into existence under the Air Force’s wing
President Donald Trump signs the National Defense Authorization Act as VIPs including First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence look on. (White House via YouTube) Amid military fanfare, President Donald Trump signed a defense authorization bill into law to create the U.S. Space Force as a sixth branch of the armed…
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GAO sides with Blue Origin in dispute over Air Force’s multibillion-dollar launch contract process
An artist’s conception shows Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. (Blue Origin Illustration) The Government Accountability Office is agreeing with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture that the Air Force needs to amend its rules for deciding who’ll get future contracts for national security space launches. Today’s GAO decision comes in response to Blue…
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Air Force’s mysterious X-37B space plane lands after spending 780 days in orbit
The Air Force’s X-37B space plane lands at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. (Air Force Photo) The U.S. Air Force’s X-37B space plane landed today after spending a record-setting 780 days in orbit testing hush-hush technologies for long-duration spaceflight. Touchdown at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in…
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Trump ushers in U.S. Space Command, with Space Force (or Corps) in the works
The official flag of the newly revived U.S. Space Command is unfurled at a White House Rose Garden ceremony, with Air Force Gen. Jay Raymond, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Defense Secretary Mark Esper looking on. (White House Photo / Tia Dufour) President Donald Trump today hailed the revival of the U.S.…
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Blue Origin protests launch contract rules as it competes with SpaceX, ULA, Northrop Grumman
An artist’s conception shows Blue Origin’s future New Glenn rocket, which is currently due to have its first flight in 2021. (Blue Origin Illustration) Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture is protesting the rules of the game for awarding future national security launch contracts, while continuing to play against SpaceX, United Launch Alliance…
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Government officials are reaching out to commercial ventures for space race revival
An artist’s conception shows a next-generation moon lander. (NASA Illustration) RENTON, Wash. — Fifty years after the landmark Apollo 11 mission blasted off for the climax of the U.S.-Soviet space race, officials from NASA and the Air Force highlighted the role of commercial space ventures in running a new race for American leadership on the…