The War Zone
• Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway
A former SR-71 engineer offers insight into the current condition of NASA’s No. 844 Blackbird, the technical and logistical work required to make the aircraft airworthy again, and what the agency may ultimately seek to accomplish through a revival program.
NASA
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A former SR-71 engineer offers insight into the current condition of NASA’s No. 844 Blackbird, the technical and logistical work required to make the aircraft airworthy again, and what the agency may ultimately seek to accomplish through a revival program.
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A SpaceX Crew Dragon carrying four astronauts from the United States, Canada and Russia docked with the International Space Station less than eight hours after launching from Florida. The rapid transit marked the fastest journey to the ISS by a U.S. spacecraft, according to the reports.
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NASA is planning three lunar investigations to assess environmental hazards, locate underground lava tubes and search for water ice needed for a future outpost. Separately, Honda and Redwire are developing robotic systems to automate laboratory work and perform dangerous tasks alongside crews on commercial stations and deep-space missions.
NASA pursued an unconventional effort to preserve Swift, combining pressure on the Treasury and rapid, AI-assisted software development. The attempt produced notable technical work but ultimately could not take the observatory further, according to comments from a participant described as “absolutely gutted.”
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SpaceX is managing an unusually concentrated launch period, with Falcon Heavy preparing to carry the classified NROL-97 payload to a high-energy orbit while Falcon 9 supports Transporter 18 from California and Crew-13 carries four astronauts to the International Space Station from Florida.
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NASA and Boeing plan to fly an additional uncrewed Starliner test in 2026 before a potential astronaut mission in 2028, following problems during the spacecraft’s 2024 flight. The schedule also depends on spacecraft upgrades and certification of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket.
NASA has not confirmed plans to return SR-71 Blackbird #844 to the air, but the aircraft’s existing attributes could make it the strongest candidate for a revival. The effort could also deliver value beyond flight-test data by rebuilding expertise around the Blackbird’s specialized supply chain.
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NASA and SpaceX have cleared Crew-13 for a planned Oct. 1 launch to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Dragon, targeting 11:10 a.m. ET, weather permitting. The six-month mission includes one veteran astronaut and three first-time flyers; Jessica Watkins is set for her second Dragon flight.
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