The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has competitively awarded SpaceX an $8.5 million contract to “refine” the process of manufacturing “next generation” heat shield technologies. In a minor resurgence of Cold War-style arms races, multiple arms of the US military apparatus have rekindled hypersonic weapons research and development programs that have been intermittently funded … Continue reading SpaceX to “refine” hypersonic heat shield manufacturing for the US Air Force