Hypersonic missile defense program moves toward 2 prototypes

The Department of Defense’s Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has selected Northrop Grumman and Raytheon Missiles and Defense to continue developing prototypes of a Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI), a planned next-generation countermeasure to defend against hypersonic weapons. While there are several different classes of hypersonic weapons that differ significantly, hypersonic weapons are typically defined as those that travel at Mach 5 or faster, or greater than five times the speed of sound. While it remains unknown what form the GPI will take, concept art typically depicts the interceptor as a rocket-boosted…

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James Webb Space Telescope scientists prepare for 1st operational images: Listen in today

Join in for free Wednesday (June 29) as NASA celebrates the forthcoming end of commissioning for its $10 billion next-generation space observatory. In a series of talks, the agency plans to discuss the James Webb Space Telescope and its aims to uncover more about the early universe, solar system objects, exoplanets and a range of interesting things around the universe. NASA will broadcast audio from the event, held in Baltimore at the Space Telescope Science Institute, starting at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT). You can tune in here courtesy of…

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Watch SpaceX launch communications satellite, land rocket at sea Wednesday

SpaceX will launch a commercial communications satellite and land a rocket at sea on Wednesday (June 29), and you can watch the action live. A two-stage Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch the SES-22 satellite from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida Wednesday during a two-hour window that opens at 5:04 p.m. EDT (2104 GMT). You can watch it live here at Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX, or directly via the company (opens in new tab), beginning about 10 minutes before liftoff. There will be a rocket landing to…

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‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ finale delivers the return of the Jedi

The thrilling conclusion to ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ is the best episode in the series and unequivocal proof that Disney knows how to get Darth Vader right. During last week’s ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’: episode 5 (opens in new tab), Ben and co narrowly escaped the Dark Lord’s wrath on Jabiim and Reva was bested by Vader in combat and left to die. But once again, the former Third Sister was underestimated. Not only did she brush off the wounds (sort of), but she happened upon Kenobi’s commlink and learned of Luke’s whereabouts on…

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SpaceX’s Starship Super Heavy rocket prototype moves to launch pad for tests

SpaceX’s massive Starship project was on the move last week, as its “Booster 7” Super Heavy rocket prototype moved to its South Texas test pad Thursday (June 23). The Starship rocket and its Super Heavy is set for pressure testing and perhaps, a static fire test at its facility near Boca Chica that would assess its abilities to burn fuel consistently over a period of time, according to Ars Technica (opens in new tab).  If it survives, “by no means a guarantee given the developmental nature of the Raptor 2…

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