News

Dec. 14, 2021
Air Force announces Spark Tank 2022 semi-finalists

ARLINGTON, Virginia – A panel of nearly 30 subject matter experts from across the Department of the Air Force met Nov. 16, 2021 at the Basic Research Innovation and Collaboration Center (BRICC) in Arlington, Virginia and via a virtual teleconferencing platform to conduct the Spark Tank 2022 (ST22)
Dec. 13, 2021
DAF declares Hack-A-Sat Challenge winners, aims to reduce space vulnerability

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The Department of the Air Force, along with the security research community, publicly announced the 2021 winners of its second annual Hack-A-Sat 2 space security challenge final event December 12. Brig. Gen. John M. Olson, call sign “Sprocket,” is the
Dec. 10, 2021
AFRL hosts exercise to test search and rescue technology in extreme climates

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFRL) – Under the Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP), a team of Air Force Research Laboratory researchers recently hosted a Polar Operations exercise to test Search and Rescue (SAR) technology in extreme climates at a technical center in Beavercreek,
Dec. 7, 2021
AFRL celebrates successful rocket launch at STEM Academy

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) – “Five…four…three…two...one…launch,” the Range Safety Officer called out. The Launch Control Officer pushed the red button, and the rocket took off, whoosh! about 1,000 feet in the air.On a beautiful sunny fall day, 184 New Mexico middle school students from
Dec. 7, 2021
WARTECH 2.0 Summit expands transformational potential

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFRL) – Air Force senior leaders approved four transformational capability topics for continued consideration as Air Force Vanguard prospects at the WARTECH 2.0 Summit. The WARTECH Summit, held annually in July the past two years, focuses on successfully
Dec. 7, 2021
AFRL celebrates launch of small-sat Ascent to GEO space

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFRL) - The Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate small satellite named Ascent was launched Dec. 7 from Cape Canaveral, Florida as part of the U.S. Space Force’s Space Test Program-3 mission, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket. Ascent
Dec. 2, 2021
AFRL opens state-of-the-art digital Space Legacy Portal exhibit

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO (AFRL) - With a video of the historic 1969 Apollo 11 launch shown on the nearly two-story screen behind him, Dr. Darren Raspa, the Air Force Research Laboratory Phillips Research Site historian, welcomed guests and colleagues to the grand opening of the AFRL Space
Dec. 2, 2021
AFRL upholds 20-year tradition of hosting Thanksgiving feast for pararescue students

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO (AFRL) - As the nation celebrated the 400th anniversary of Thanksgiving, the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy and Space Vehicles Contracting Divisions carried on a 20-year tradition of providing a Thanksgiving feast to the more than 100 Air Force
Nov. 30, 2021
AFRL’s drone killer, THOR wins Popular Science “Best of” award

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is celebrating the success of its counter drone weapon, the Tactical High-power Operational Responder (THOR), after being named the Popular Science “Best of What’s New” in the security category.
Nov. 29, 2021
Rapid Dragon conducts palletized munition demonstration using production long range cruise missile

The Air Force Rapid Dragon Program, a fast-paced experimentation campaign led by the Air Force Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SDPE) office, completed another successful flight demonstration November 3.