Space News reported that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) plans to “send to orbit a spacecraft powered by a nuclear propulsion system.” The technology “could give the U.S. military an advantage over enemies by making satellites more maneuverable and less vulnerable to attack.” DARPA’s Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) spacecraft is scheduled to launch in 2025.
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Tag: DARPA
Lockheed Martin Tapped by DARPA for Next Design Phase for Aircraft Using “Active Flow Control”
Politico reports that Lockheed Martin and Aurora Flight Sciences “have been tapped by DARPA for the next design phase for an aircraft using ‘active flow control,’ which replaces traditional features such as rudders and flaps with actuators or effectors.” Both companies have already “completed conceptual designs of a flight demonstrator for the Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors project.” DARPA also announced that it has “selected BAE Systems to develop a conceptual design.” Lockheed Martin and Aurora, a subsidiary of Boeing, are “expected to wrap up work next year, when DARPA will award an undetermined number of contracts for continued development.”
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Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin Selected by DARPA to Develop Spacecraft for Nuclear Propulsion Demo
Space News reports that DARPA “selected Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin to develop competing spacecraft concepts for a demonstration of nuclear thermal propulsion, the agency announced April 12.” The contracts were awarded under the demonstration rocket for agile cislunar operations (DRACO) program. Through the program, DARPA is looking “to demonstrate nuclear thermal propulsion technology – using a nuclear reactor to heat up rocket fuel to generate thrust.” Lockheed Martin’s “contract value is $2.9 million and the Blue Origin’s is $2.5 million.”
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DARPA Tests AI Dogfighting in Two-Versus-One Simulations
FlightGlobal reports that DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution program tested team dogfighting between AI-controlled fighters in a software simulation in February. The “Scrimmage 1” was run by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and tested AI algorithms in a two-versus-one simulated engagement. DARPA Strategic Technology Office Program Manager Col. Dan Javorsek said, “These new engagements represent an important step in building trust in the algorithms since they allow us to assess how the [artificial intelligent] agents handle clear avenue of fire restrictions set up to prevent fratricide; This is exceedingly important when operating with offensive weapons in a dynamic and confusing environment that includes a manned fighter, and also affords the opportunity to increase the complexity and teaming associated with manoeuvring two aircraft in relation to an adversary.”
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DARPA Taking Proposals for Developing “Novel or Unique” Attempts at Personal Flying Devices
The Washington Times reports that DARPA “is taking another crack at personal flying devices, inviting companies to send their proposals for developing and demonstrating ‘novel or unique approaches to personal battlefield mobility.’” Officials “said entries could be a modification of existing prototypes – such as the Bell Rocket Belt – or could embrace entirely new designs.” Agency officials also “said the platforms would be used on a variety of missions, including urban combat, search-and-rescue, and deploying special forces troops into a battlefield.” However, the military would “prefer a platform with a low profile,” and a soldier “must be able to assemble it within 10 minutes using only simple tools – or better yet, no tools at all.”
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DARPA Seeks Private-Sector Input on Capabilities to Build Large Structures on the Moon
Space News reports that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is seeking input from the space industry “about their capabilities to manufacture large structures on the moon” for a new project, which was announced Friday, called, “Novel Orbital and Moon Manufacturing, Materials and Mass-efficient Design.” DARPA Defense Sciences Office Program Manager Bill Carter said in a statement that the agency is looking to “develop foundational materials, processes, and designs needed to realize in-space manufacturing of large, precise and resilient Defense Department systems.” The agency is inviting “companies that have technologies in this area” to join a webinar scheduled for February 26. DARPA “does not intend to issue any contracts now but is doing market research for a future solicitation.”
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