In the 2007 defense authorization billed, passed by Congress late last month and now awaiting the President’s signature, lawmakers have directed the Pentagon to create a joint technology office on hypersonics to oversee all military programs and coordinate with NASA. Congress also is asking for DOD to produce a hypersonics roadmap every two years; the first is due with the 2008 budget submittal. The Air Force is very interested in hypersonics, but service and industry officials have ruled out its application as premature for the new long-range strike platform, which is to be fielded by 2018.
To Inspire New USAF Tech, Look to Mars Rover
Feb. 24, 2021
Last week, NASA’s Perseverance rover thrilled citizens of Earth when it landed on Mars with the promise of a new chapter in red planet exploration. But the military could also learn a thing or two from the spacecraft’s trip for future research and development efforts, Space Force Chief Scientist Joel…