📡 New space radar detects football-sized threats 22,000 miles away, US Army tests rifle-toting robot dog, stuck Starliner astronauts to be rescued by SpaceX?

Plus: China finds over 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas in South China Sea                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 August 09, 2024 | [Read Online]( Explore more of our exciting channels [Interesting Engineering]( [Military Mechanics]( [Crafty Engineers]( Plans to establish a network of advanced radars to monitor deep space activity are moving forward in Pembrokeshire, despite strong opposition from local campaigners. The Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (Darc) will see the construction of 27 radar dishes, each standing 20 meters tall, on the St Davids peninsula. These high-tech radars are designed to track objects as small as a football and are part of a broader global network aimed at enhancing space defense. For more on this development, check out today’s [Must-Read](. 🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on [jobs.interestingengineering.com](: >[Â]([Java Engineer]( > [CONTRACT TO HIRE – AI / ML Engineer]( Reading Time: 4 mins Did a friend forward this e-mail to you? [Subscribe here.]( MUST READ 📡 [UK’s new space radar can detect football-sized threats 22,000 miles away]( The radar system, to be developed at Cawdor Barracks in southwest Wales, is a key initiative under the [Aukus defense partnership]( involving the UK, US, and Australia. The network will span three countries and is intended to monitor and track objects up to [22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) away]( from Earth. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) sees this project as essential for safeguarding against [potential space-based threats](. John Healey, the UK Defence Secretary, emphasizes the significance of the Darc project, noting that it will not only secure jobs but also play a crucial role in [future defense strategies](. 🐕 [US Army tests rifle-toting robot dog to bite intruder drones with bullets]( The US Army is integrating cutting-edge technology both on the ground and in the air to create [more effective and deadly]( military formations in the future. Now, it is testing advanced equipment, including an [AI rifle-holding robot dog](, in its efforts to develop solutions for taking down intruder drones. An exercise in this regard was held on August 1 at Fort Drum, New York, as part of [Operation Hard Kil](l. Through the operation, the venue has emerged as a premier Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) defeat training facility. 🚀 [SpaceX rescue? Stuck Starliner astronauts to break space station bread for 6 more months]( A mission, which was supposed to be a [10-day test flight]( for Boeing’s new spacecraft, has turned into an extended stay for astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. The Boeing CST-100 Starliner capsule carrying them blasted off on June 5 and arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) the next day. Upon arrival, the astronauts uncovered [propulsion system issues](, including thruster failures and helium leaks. This raised serious safety concerns and consistently delayed the astronauts' return. NASA is now grappling with a major decision: should the astronauts return to Earth on the troubled Starliner, or switch to a [SpaceX Crew Dragon](? Love what you're reading, but too many emails? Sign up to IE+ to get Blueprint Weekly, our exclusive weekly premium newsletter that gives all the insights you love in a more digestible weekly format– plus, enjoy an Ad-Free experience on our website. Try IE+ today for just $1 in the first month. [Subscribe here]( HOT TOPICS OF THE DAY SCIENCE > Researchers have succeeded in developing a microscope that offers a resolution better than five nanometers – which is five billionths of a meter. ([More]() > Researchers have drilled a three-quarter-mile (1.268 km) long core from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This record-breaking mineralogical recovery from the mantle could help scientists unlock the secrets to the origin of life on Earth. ([More]() > When Earth and our moon were much closer together than they are now, the duo could have had tiny companions or a disk revolving around them in orbits around the pair's poles, a new study finds. ([More]() ENERGY > China has officially confirmed a groundbreaking discovery in the South China Sea. The newly identified Lingshui 36-1 gas field is recognized as the world’s first “ultra-shallow gas field in ultra-deep waters,” marking a significant advancement in gas exploration technology. ([More]() > Researchers have made major advances in solar energy technology by developing an innovative type of photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) solar panel. The creative design enhances effectiveness while also addressing ongoing durability issues associated with traditional PVT modules. ([More]() > EV and battery manufacturers are working to overcome the two biggest challenges of electric mobility: range and charging time. Testing systems must be flexible within this framework to adapt to higher voltages and higher-capacity batteries. ([More]() INNOVATION > China has begun using a long-endurance strike and reconnaissance drone in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region for cloud-seeding trials. ([More]() > A new device that detects water contaminants quickly, more efficiently, and cost-effectively can save millions of lives each year in developing countries. ([More]() > Scientists have found how ions move in tiny pores, potentially improving energy storage in devices like supercapacitors. Their research updates Kirchhoff’s law, with significant implications for energy storage in vehicles and power grids. ([More]() VIDEO > The black hole information paradox is one of those physics problems that can keep scientists up at night. It strikes at the heart of one of the crucial problems in modern physics: the fact that we can’t reconcile general relativity and quantum mechanics. ([More]() > Meet Chris and Mika Brown: the father and son adventure duo who went on the world's loneliest swim. ([More]() IE QUIZ: THE RESULTS In yesterday’s quiz, we asked, What is the value of the red angle? The answer is: 30 Ready for more brainy challenges? Gear up for future IE quizzes by following us on [Instagram]( and [Facebook!]( FROM THE WEB > China mutes law professor on social media after cybersecurity ID plan [criticism]( > Test flights of so-called flying taxis have been scrapped in Paris during the [Olympics]( > Bubble-blowing dead stars could create the 'most violent phenomena in the [universe](' > New research reveals why alcohol makes people feel happier in social settings but not when drinking [alone]( > The use of drones can help curb the loss of Madagascar's biodiverse forests through illegal [deforestation]( Additional Reads --------------------------------------------------------------- [⚙️ Mechanical:](Explore the wonders of mechanical engineering. [🛩️ Aerospace:]( The latest on propulsion, satellites, aeronautics, and more. [🧑🏻‍🔧 Engineer Pros:]( The latest in engineering news, career updates, and insider knowledge. 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