A Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-15J performing at an air show in Japan on Nov. 29 lost a section of its tail shortly after takeoff, prompting the JASDF to ground its fleet of F-15J fighters pending inspections, reports The Mainichi Daily News. The newspaper reported that the 2.4-meter-long fragment from the left tail plane fragmented into seven pieces. In addition to the F-15, JASDF flies an even older F-4 that, at one time, it had hoped to replace with an export version of USAF’s new F-22 air dominance fighter. However, the Pentagon refused Congressional prodding to consider an export F-22 and with the end of the Raptor production line in sight, Japan is considering buying F-35 strike fighters instead.
Building satellites is hard enough on Earth, but a group of companies just received a contract from the U.S. Space Force that could pave the way to building satellites in orbit. Announced March 20, the goal of the $1.6 million award is to demonstrate building a standalone satellite on Earth…