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Space

SpaceX Aims To Begin Flight Tests Of New Mars Rocket In First Half Of 2019, Musk Says

By Marc Selinger

Monday, March 12th, 2018

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SpaceX Aims To Begin Flight Tests Of New Mars Rocket In First Half Of 2019, Musk Says

Falcon Heavy lifts off from Florida during its first flight Feb. 6, 2018. (Photo: SpaceX)

The Big Falcon Rocket (BFR), which SpaceX is developing to colonize Mars, is on a path to begin flight tests in the first half of 2019, according to company founder Elon Musk.Initial tests will probably be short up-and-down flights, Musk said March 11 at the South by Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas. Musk acknowledged that the test schedule could change.“I’m feeling pretty optimistic about the timeline, although … people have told me that my timelines historically have been optimistic,” Musk said. “So…

Unmanned Systems

Counter-Drone Needs Will Be Addressed In Next NDAA Based On Iran War Lessons, Banks Says

A Republican senator on Armed Services Committee on Thursday said that defending against Iranian drones has been challenge for U.S. warfighters and will be an area of focus in the […]

Pentagon

Pentagon ‘Working Options’ On Iran Supplemental, May Seek Funds For New Capabilities

The Pentagon is “working options” for a potential supplemental spending request to fund the operation against Iran and replenish munitions used in the strike campaign, with a senior official noting […]

Congress

Wicker Backs “Crash Program” To Supply Ukraine With Low-Cost Weapons

Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) on Thursday proposed a rapid effort to supply Ukraine with low-cost weapons to aid that country in turning back Russia. “We […]

Congress

Dem Lawmakers Want To Codify Trump’s Push For More Defense Contractor Accountability

A group of four Congressional Democrats want to codify President Donald Trump’s push to hold defense firms accountable for prioritizing production investments over paying out stock buybacks, and are seeking […]