Air Force Research Laboratory

An artistic rendering of a space nuclear reactor system designed to produce high-power electricity.Illustration: LANLLockheed Martin is at the early stages of developing a nuclear propulsion system to power a spacecraft through the depths of the cosmos.What Inspired Dominic Monaghan's Performance in Moriarty?Under a $33.7 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Lockheed Martin announced that it was in the “preliminary design review stage” of the Joint Emergent Technology Supplying On-Orbit Nuclear…

Just how vulnerable are the thousands of government-operated satellites speeding along their orbits above our heads? A team of researchers proved they could hack into a European Space Agency-owned satellite, allowing them to take full control of its communication, imaging—and even its maneuverability systems.Astronomers Could Soon Get Warnings When SpaceX Satellites Threaten Their ViewThe intrusion was a controlled hack as part ofESA’s ongoing CYSAT conference. According to a Tuesday release, a cybersecurity team from…

Photo: Kyle Brasier, U.S. Air ForceThe Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced it has developed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm for a self-flying F-16 fighter jet less than three years after creating the control simulated F-16 jet.The flight took place on Lockheed Martin’s VISTA X-62A, which Lockheed Martin said in a press release is a modified F-16D Block 30 Peace Marble Il aircraft upgraded with Block 40 avionics.DARPA used its Air Combat Evolution (ACE) program to create the autonomous jet…

Lunar Flashlight is set for launch in November, and can be seen here in Georgia Tech’s clean room. Image: NASA/JPL-CaltechThe Lunar Flashlight is exactly what it sounds like—a spacecraft that will shine infrared light on some of the permanently shadowed parts on the Moon in an effort to find water—and NASA is looking to launch next month.The brief-case sized satellite will scan the Moon’s south pole, where there could be reservoirs of ice water located inside permanently shadowed regions. Lunar Flashlight could locate…

Rocket Lab will explore using its Electron small launcher and future Neutron medium-lift rocket for point-to-point transportation. Illustration: Rocket LabPrivate aerospace companies Rocket Lab and Sierra Space are joining the U.S. Air Force’s Rocket Cargo project, which aims to transport cargo around the world with space as its highway.Rocket Lab announced Tuesday that it signed an agreement with the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) that could potentially see its small launcher Electron rocket and future…