Aurora Flight Sciences has been chosen by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop a high-flying unmanned aircraft that can stay aloft uninterrupted for up to five years to gather data and imagery and transmit communications, the company announced April 14. DARPA is sponsoring this work under its Vulture program, which seeks to overcome the shortcomings in energy management and technology reliability that impede a pseudo satellite to operate for such extended durations in the stratosphere. Aurora calls its design Odysseus. The concept uses solar energy to power the aircraft during daylight, and stored solar energy to power the aircraft at night. Company spokeswoman Patricia Woodside told the Daily Report yesterday that the Odysseus design will be unveiled April 23 at the Boston Science Museum. Aurora’s teammates include BAE Systems, C.S. Draper Laboratories, and Sierra Nevada Corporation.
US Has Struck Over 1,000 Houthi Targets in Renewed Campaign
April 30, 2025
U.S. forces have struck more than 1,000 Houthi targets in Yemen since March 15, U.S. officials said, as the Trump administration’s military campaign against the militants reached the 45-day mark. Dubbed Operation Rough Rider, the campaign has drawn on U.S. Navy and Air Force warplanes and drones. The campaign shows…