Science & Tech

How Wi-Fi Will Power Tomorrow's Battle Gear

Cords and batteries are a burden on the battlefield. Will future devices be powered by radio waves…from space?

Science & Tech

The Air Force's Secret Space Drone Is Headed Back To Orbit

Less than five years ago, the X-37B became the first U.S. spacecraft to land on a runway autonomously. Now, as before, few know what its mission actually is.

Science & Tech

The Air Force Is One Step Closer to a Shape-Shifting Plane

NASA and the United States Air Force Research Lab successfully tested a plane with wings that change shape mid-flight.

Science & Tech

New Chips Could Patch the Military’s GPS Vulnerability

The Pentagon hopes that new location technology can ward off jammers and spoofers without breaking the bank.

Science & Tech

These Robotic Spiders Could Fix America's Satellite Infrastructure in Space

Instead of sending complete structures into space, the rockets of tomorrow could be filled with raw materials that dozens of multi-limbed robots could assemble in orbit.

Science & Tech

The World of 2020 According to DARPA

The research agency is making underwater robots that can sleep for years and other robots that can fix satellites in space.

Science & Tech

The Air Force Might Have To Protect Money Laundering in Space

Burgeoning US space monitoring capabilities may one day be used to protect off-planet money launderers from Chinese rockets.

Policy

SpaceX's Biggest Military Advantage Isn't Just Cheap Rockets

As the upstart competes for Air Force contracts, it hopes that its competitor's reliance on Russian parts gives it an advantage.

Science & Tech

Obama Wants More Money for Military Spy Satellites, Lasers, Space Fence

It could be a great year for lasers and spy satellites, but a bad one for drones on aircraft carriers.

Business

SpaceX Ends Lawsuit, Settles With Air Force for Future Launch Bids

Elon Musk’s rocket company announced a settlement with the Air Force over allegations it unfairly awarded an $11 billion space launch contract to a competitor. By Tim Fernholz

Science & Tech

How 3D Printing Could Help Replace Russian Rockets

The Pentagon could field an alternative to the Russian-made RD-180 rocket engine faster, but the technology is unproven. By Marcus Weisgerber

Science & Tech

The Air Force's Top-Secret Space Drone Is Finally Coming Back Home

Boeing's X-37B is coming home Tuesday after a record 22 months in orbit. What it was doing up there is still shrouded in mystery. By Tim Fernholz

Business

The Strange But True Reason the US Isn't Destroying Its Old Nukes

Since a small asteroid crashed in Russia last year, scientists are working on ways to destroy them before impact -- and they're not ruling out nuclear weapons. By Tim Fernholz

Science & Tech

Boeing and SpaceX Tapped To Free NASA from Russian Launches

NASA awarded a $4.2 billion contract to Boeing and a $2.6 billion contract to SpaceX to send its astronauts into orbit without help from Russia. By Tim Fernholz

Science & Tech

The China-U.S. Hypersonic Arms Race Is Having a Little Trouble

Both Washington and Beijing are trying to develop weapons that are virtually immune to missile defense systems. It's about as difficult as it sounds. By Zach Wener-Fligner

Science & Tech

Three Companies Want to Send NASA's Astronauts Into Space

A different kind of space race is seeking to break America's reliance on Russia to get U.S. astronauts into orbit. By Marina Koren

Science & Tech

Pentagon Satellite Maker Ignoring 'Thousands' of Major Cyber Vulnerabilities

Raytheon blasted for ignoring 'high-risk' vulnerabilities to weather satellites shared by government agencies. By Aliya Sternstein

Threats

America's Top Threats in Space Are Lasers and Nukes

The threats to U.S. space dominance are many and dazzling. By Patrick Tucker

Science & Tech

SpaceX Just Cleared a Key Hurdle on Its Way to Bidding for Air Force Contracts

Elon Musk's company proved for the 10th time it can launch satellites into space. But will that be enough to earn it a shot at nearly $70 billion in Air Force contracts? By Tim Fernholz