China Unveils New ‘Cuantianhou’ Spaceplane: Innovation or Simply Imitation of American Technology?
China has unveiled its new "Cuantianhou" spaceplane, which looks unmistakably like another iconic American aircraft.
Aerospace
Hybrid “Anti-Frost” Surface Prevents Accumulation on Airplane Wings and Power Lines for Days
Northwestern researchers have developed a novel anti-frost surface that prevents accumulation on airplane wings for a week or more.
Water World: Dwarf Planet Ceres Was Once Covered by an Ocean
A new study, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests that Ceres is far icier than once thought and may have once been a muddy ocean world.
How the Polaris Dawn Mission Made History With the First Civilian Commercial Space Walk
Polaris Dawn, SpaceX’s most ambitious mission to date, successfully carried astronauts the furthest from Earth since the Apollo era.
NASA’s New Radar-Equipped Gulfstream Aircraft is Set to Enhance Earth Science Capabilities
NASA’s heavily modified Gulfstream IV twin jet will greatly enhance the agency’s data collection capabilities for Earth science missions.
Secretive SR-72 Hypersonic Aircraft, Successor to Lockheed Martin’s Legendary SR-71, Could Soon Take Flight
New indications suggest Lockheed Martin's secretive SR-72 hypersonic demonstrator aircraft could finally be nearing production.
NASA-Funded Hypersonic Breakthrough Can Eliminate Deadly “Shock Train” at the Speed of Light
Optical sensors that rapidly detect a 'shock train' inside a scramjet engine could revolutionize hypersonic flight.
Advanced Propulsion Researchers from GE Aerospace Successfully Test Cutting-Edge Dual-Mode Hypersonic Ramjet
Researchers from GE Aerospace have announced their first-ever successful test of a dual mode hypersonic ramjet engine.
The Southwest Research Institute’s New High-Speed Propulsion Facility Officially Breaks Ground
The Southwest Research Institute has officially broken ground on their new CAMP high-speed propulsion facility.
Air Force-Funded Ursa Major Successfully Test Fires “Draper” Engine Built to Power Spacecraft of the Future
Ursa Major has announced the first successful test firing of its Draper engine, which will power both hypersonic and in-space flight.
NASA Officially Confirms Mysterious Object Recovered in NC Mountains is SpaceX Debris
NASA has officially confirmed that a mysterious object found on a remote North Carolina trail is SpaceX debris that once belonged to one of the American spacecraft company's Dragon capsules.
DARPA Teases Newest ‘X-Plane’ Images as Mysterious Hybrid Electric Propulsion Craft Gets Official Designation
DARPA has revealed the official designation of a next-generation X-plane it currently has under development.
U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin Test Advanced Mk21A Missile Reentry Vehicle Over the Pacific
The USAF and Lockheed Martin have announced the successful completion of a test involving the Mk21A future intercontinental ballistic missile reentry vehicle.
Anomalous Satellites? DARPA Deploys New System for Detecting Unusual Objects in Orbit
DARPA has a new tracking system to detect objects in orbit that exhibit anomalous behavior that may threaten U.S. national security.
SpaceX Starlink “Extreme Flaring” Increases Reported UAP Sightings and Poses Aviation Risks, New Research Finds
New research shows SpaceX's Starlink satellites can cause extreme flaring, confusing airline pilots and complicating UAP tracking.
Look: DARPA’s High-Speed X-Plane Just Got a Makeover, New Images Reveal
An experimental high-speed, vertical-lift X-plane has a new look, as revealed in new conceptual images as the aircraft moves toward its preliminary design phase.
UK Space Agency Testing Extremely Low Orbit Propulsion System That Runs on Solar Power and Thin Air
UK's new extremely low orbit propulsion system that could keep satellites aloft for years at a time will run on solar power and thin air
NASA is Developing Future Propulsion Systems and Improving Sustainability with This Pint-Sized Jet Engine
A small-scale jet engine compact enough to fit on a tabletop is helping to make the future of aviation more sustainable, according to NASA engineers currently involved in tests that could help pave the way toward new aircraft propulsion systems of the coming decades.
Lockheed Martin’s ‘Mako,’ the U.S. Navy’s Powerful New Multi-Mission Hypersonic Missile, is Officially Unveiled
Lockheed Martin’s new Mako missile has officially made its debut, marking the arrival of the first hypersonic weapon developed for compatibility with fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
DARPA’s Groundbreaking “ACE” Program and X-62A Becomes First AI-Controlled Jet to Dogfight Against Manned F-16 in Real-World
DARPA's ACE program achieves a milestone with the first AI jet to successfully engage in a real-world dogfight against a manned F-16.
RocketStar Successfully Demonstrates FireStar™ Nuclear Fusion-Enhanced Pulsed Plasma Propulsion Drive
RocketStar Inc. says they have successfully demonstrated their FireStar™ nuclear fusion-enhanced pulsed plasma electric propulsion drive.
Engineers Create “Ultrablack” Coating for Light-Sensitive Equipment Operating in Outer Space
Engineers create an "ultrablack" coating for space applications that absorbs 99.3% of the light it encounters across a wide range of light wavelengths.
Mission to Investigate Potentially Hazardous Objects in Orbit Lifts Off Aboard Rocket Lab Electron Rocket
Aerospace company Rocket Lab has successfully deployed a satellite on a mission to inspect space junk for potential removal from orbit.
U.S. Air Force Prepares to Unleash ‘LITENING’ with Its New Large Aperture Targeting Pod
The U.S. Air Force is gearing up to equip its new LITENING targeting pod with enhanced electro-optical and infrared capabilities.
Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion Technology One Step Closer as Aerospace Company Looks Toward Prototype Tests
Aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney says it is advancing toward ground tests of its new Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion prototype.
Game-Changing ‘Flightline of the Future’ Leverages Augmented Reality for Transmission of Sensitive Military Aircraft Data at High Speeds
Northrup Grumman and its partners have unveiled a new system that facilitates the secure transmission of sensitive, classified military data at high speeds.
Unknown Object Punched “Softball Sized Hole” in Aircraft, Prompting Emergency Landing and FAA Investigation
The FAA is investigating an incident that prompted the emergency landing of an Atlas Air flight at Miami International Airport late Thursday evening, leaving a hole above one of its engines.
DARPA’s Mysterious X-Plane Will Revolutionize Flight by Breaking This Century-Old Aviation Design Paradigm
DARPA is set to revolutionize flight with its experimental X-plane, upending a century of flight with an aircraft featuring no moving control surfaces.
NASA’s X-59 Quiet Supersonic Aircraft is Unveiled During Historic Ceremony at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works
On Friday, the X-59 Quesst supersonic aircraft was unveiled to the public at Lockheed Martin’s iconic Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California.
New Bipartisan Bill Aims to Strengthen UAP Reporting from Civilian Pilots and Aviation Personnel
A new bill, the 'Safe Airspace for Americans Act' aims to encourage reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) from pilots.
NASA Will Debut Its Mysterious X-59 ‘Quiet’ Supersonic Aircraft at Famous Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Facility Next Week
NASA has announced its plans to unveil its ultra-quiet X-59 supersonic aircraft next week, the American space agency said in a statement on Friday.
Revolutionary Electrospray Propulsion System Powered by Nanotech May Be Ready to Power Small Spacecraft by the End of 2024
The ESA is producing a new electrospray propulsion system for small spacecraft that is small enough to fit into the palm of your hand.
Dream Chaser Spaceplane is Gearing Up to Help NASA Deliver Cargo to the International Space Station
An innovative new spaceplane cargo system is advancing toward its first delivery to the International Space Station (ISS), as one of NASA’s commercial partners providing resupply services.
Unknown Mission of Pentagon’s Mysterious X-37B Spacecraft to Resume, Amidst Setbacks and Speculations
The X-37B spaceplane is set to resume one of the U.S. military’s most mysterious space missions, amidst setbacks over the weekend that pushed the spacecraft’s launch forward another day to Monday.
Soft Morphing Aerial Robots Could Revolutionize Space Exploration, Starting with Saturn’s Moon Titan
Soft morphing aerial robots could revolutionize space exploration by overcoming complex terrains, starting with Titan.
DARPA Funding ‘Game Changing’, High-Speed VTOL Aurora X-Plane
DARPA has signed an agreement with Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences to develop the SPRINT high-speed VTOL Aurora X-Plane.
Revealed: The Pentagon’s Secretive Next-Generation X-Plane That Could Revolutionize Air Warfare
New details on a secret Next-Generation X-Plane, that's played pivotal role in the Air Force's NGAD program.
NASA Funding Development of “Game-Changing” Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines
NASA is funding researchers from the University of Texas at Arlington for the development of rotating detonation rocket engines.
New Details on Secretive U.S. Military X-37B Spaceplane’s Next Mission Are Revealed, Along with a Surprise
Details about the seventh mission of the U.S. military’s mysterious X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle have been revealed, along with surprising news about the secretive spaceplane’s upcoming launch.
Revolutionary New Electric eJet Motor Could Signal a Breakthrough in Electric Propulsion for Aviation
A new electric eJet motor was recently tested for airplanes, and it packs the same punch as its traditional fossil fuel-burning cousin.
NASA Shows Off Experimental ‘Next-Generation’ Advanced Electric Propulsion System
NASA is revealing new details about its experimental Advanced Electric Propulsion System, designed to fly on the Gateway mission in 2025.
U.S. Air Force Signs Historic Agreement to Share Data with FAA on Advanced Air Mobility Vehicles
The U.S. Air Force has signed a historic agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration to share critical testing data and expertise on Advanced Air Mobility Vehicles.
NASA’s Mysterious X-59 Supersonic Experimental Aircraft is Finally Gearing Up For Its First Flight
NASA's mysterious X-59 experimental aircraft is moving towards its first flight following an announced goal of 2024.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch of Starlink Satellites Delayed After Liftoff from Cape Canaveral is Postponed
SpaceX postponed the launch of its next delivery of Starlink satellites into orbit Sunday evening, according to an online posting by the American space technology and launch systems provider.
This New 3D Printable Wonder Material Could Help Propel NASA’s Future Missions Into Deep Space
NASA reports that it has tested a new 3D printed rocket engine component made from a novel material that could help to hasten an era of deep space flights that are able to carry larger payloads.
Opinion: How Private Aviation Offers Practical Solutions For Technology and Business
From time efficiency to better overall health and safety, the benefits of private jet travel for technology business purposes go beyond luxury.
New Details Emerge in Development of U.S. Air Force Weapon Marking a ‘New Generation of Air Power’
The USAF has tasked Northop Grumman with building an air-to-ground weapon that will represent the next generation of air power and defense.
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Developing Incredible Morphing Hypersonic Engine
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Is Funding the development of a morphing hypersonic engine that can change shape during flight.
Aurora Spaceplane Concept Looks Like an Area 51-style ‘Black Jet,’ and It Could Revolutionize Hypersonic Spaceflight by 2030
German aerospace company POLARIS is advancing its development of AURORA, a next-generation spaceplane with a familiar and intriguing name.
NASA Taps Boeing and Northrop Grumman to Develop Ultra-High-Speed Mach 4 Passenger Aircraft
NASA has tasked Boeing and Northrop Grumman to develop viable designs for a commercial aircraft capable of Mach 4 travel.