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US Air Force

  • The freeze ray uses a plasma pulse to draw away heat
    Science
    Plasma pulses promise real-life 'freeze ray'
    A team of scientists led by University of Virginia professor Patrick Hopkins is developing a plasma "freeze ray" that will be less interesting to super villains than to engineers looking for ways to cool electronics in the vacuum of space.
  • A small device placed on the neck delivers a few minutes of mild electric stimulation to the vagus nerve
    Science
    Electric shocks counter sleep deprivation in tests on soldiers
    New research investigating novel ways to improve focus in sleep-deprived individuals has found a device that non-invasively sends electrical stimulation through the neck can boost alertness and reduce fatigue in subjects kept awake for up to 34 hours.
  • Until recently, payloads of the X-37B have been strictly classified (Photo: US Air Force)
    Astronomy
    NASA to fly material testing experiment on X-37B spaceplane
    The US Air Force's secret X-37B spaceplane seems more "sort of" secret as more is revealed about its upcoming OTV-4 mission. According to NASA, when it launches on May 20 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, it will carry an experiment designed to test new materials for use in future spacecraft.
  • The Hall thrusters that the X-37B will carry on its next mission are ion engines similar to the one on the Dawn deep space probe (Photo: US Air Force)
    Astronomy
    Hall ion thrusters to fly on X-37B spaceplane
    When the unmanned X-37B mission lifts off from Cape Canaveral AFB on May 20, it will be carrying a Hall thruster as part of an experiment to improve the design for use on Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications spacecraft.
  • The OTV-3 mission set a new record for time spent in orbit by a reusable spacecraft (Image: Boeing)
    Astronomy
    Top secret X-37B spaceplane breaks orbital endurance record
    A secret mission came to a public end as the US Air Force’s top secret X-37B spaceplane landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The unmanned reusable spacecraft touched down on the runway like a conventional aircraft this morning at 9:24 am EDT after a record-breaking 674 days in orbit.
  • HAARP operational site on the edge of Denali State Park northeast of Anchorage, Alaska (Photo: HAARP)
    Science
    HAARP ionospheric research program set to continue
    Contrary to recent reports, the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, also known as HAARP, is currently in hiatus between two operating contractors rather than being permanently shut down.