An Air Force-industry team launches the Boeing-built X-37B orbital test vehicle, the first of a new unmanned, reusable space test platform, into space at 7:52 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., via a United Launch Alliance Atlas V expendable booster.
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.