US Space Force declares war on hypersonic missiles threat with ‘FOO Fighter’ satellites

Plus: Venus Stargazer hypersonic jet could reach Tokyo from San Francisco in just one hour [Blueprint]( Hypersonic missiles are a formidable challenge, but now the United States Space Force is gearing up to meet it with state-of-the-art space systems to defend itself. The new FOO Fighter program puts enemies on notice — Space Force's eyes in the skies are watching your every move. Hypersonic glide vehicles fly at speeds too quick for traditional missile defense systems. FOO Fighter's space-based infrared sensors will track these soaring projectiles during boost phase rather than waiting until late in their flight. To understand more about how Space Force intends to deal with the hypersonic threat, jump to today’s [Must Read article](. 🎬 But first, here’s [your video of the day](. Good morning. I’m Tim, an Editor at IE. This is the Blueprint. Let’s get into it. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers learned about how low power photovoltaic cells could replace disposable batteries. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+]( today to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. VIDEO OF THE DAY [Is Nikola Tesla Overrated?]( How maglev trains work Maglevs are the fastest trains in the world, capable of reaching 274 miles per hour. How can they reach such high speeds? SUPPORT INTERESTING ENGINEERING Invest in science and engineering Insider access to exclusive content, featuring riveting stories that take you right to the heart of the action. Engage with our thriving online community, dive into captivating science discoveries, and stay informed with our enlightening weekly premium newsletters. With IE+, quality reporting is more than just news - and it is Ad-Free. [SUBSCRIBE]( Must Read [Space Force wants 'FOO Fighters' satellites to combat hypersonic missiles]( The United States Space Force plans to fight back against the threat of hypersonic missiles, with a new satellite constellation they have dubbed “FOO Fighter.” Set to launch in 2026, these infrared-equipped satellites will act as space-based sentries detecting hypersonic threats earlier in flight when they're most vulnerable. Eight of these sensor-loaded satellites will provide fire-control-quality tracking data to give a fighting chance when intercepting inbound hypersonic strikes. FOO Fighter is the Space Force’s latest move to counter growing hypersonic capabilities from adversaries like China and Russia. With launches like SpaceX’s Tranche 0 satellites and the final SBIRS GEO satellite building up the “Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture”, Space Force is assembling an orbital arsenal to detect and deal with emerging threats. [Read More]( HOT TOPICS - [ChatGPT: Unveiling the power of advanced language models]( ChatGPT took the world by storm when it launched in 2023. But where did it come from and how does it actually work? - [Elon Musk launches new company xAI to 'understand reality' and take on OpenAI]( Shortly after resigning as CEO of Twitter, Musk is expected to assume the position of CEO once again, this time at a fresh AI startup. - [Astronomers find exoplanet twice the mass of Jupiter hiding in plain sight]( The planet is only a few million years old and may be responsible for a spiral 'arm' in its surrounding protoplanetary disk. - [Footage surfaces of China testing a J-20 with twin WS-15 engines to rival the US]( Grainy footage is doing the rounds on social media that appear to show a testbed J-20 fighter with twin WS-15 jet engines. - [Video: World's most advanced humanoid robot, Ameca, draws a cat]( Ameca has added a new skill to their skillset. [Transportation]( [Venus Stargazer: Hypersonic jet could reach Tokyo from San Francisco in just one hour](target=) The Stargazer is planned to travel at Mach 9, carrying 12 passengers between San Francisco to Tokyo in just one hour — eleven times faster than a typical long-haul flight today. [Read More]( [Innovation]( [Quantum drive that draws 'limitless power' from Sun will fly to orbit this year](target=) IVO Ltd’s Quantum Drive builds on the idea of Quantized Inertia (QI) proposed by physicist Mike McCulloch, a professor at the University of Plymouth. If it lives up to IVO's expectations, the Quantum Drive could rewrite critical principles of physics that have long been a cornerstone for the space industry. [Read More]( [Science]( [Astronomers detect the coldest star ever observed emitting radio waves](target=) The “ultracool brown dwarf” is burning at roughly 797 degrees Fahrenheit (425 degrees centigrade) and has no nuclear fuel. Its relatively balmy temperature, for a star, makes it cooler than the average campfire. By comparison, our Sun burns at approximately 9,930 Fahrenheit (5,600 Celcius). [Read More]( job alert In this section you’ll find the latest jobs as featured on: [jobs.interestingengineering.com]( [Principal Software QA Engineer - Web]( [Tandem Diabetes Care Inc.]( [Cybersecurity Engineering Senior Manager Metro Detroit or North Dallas locations]( [Comerica Bank]( [Associate Principal, Software Engineering: Blockchain, Distributed Ledger, Scala]( [Options Clearing Corporation]( [Value Engineer]( [Whisker]( [Senior Engineer Software]( [PAYLOCITY CORPORATION]( [Process Engineer III]( [CDI Engineering Solutions, LLC]( “[They] are a kind of missing link between the smallest stars that burn hydrogen in nuclear reactions and the largest gas giant planets, like Jupiter.” Kovi Rose, describing ultracool brown dwarf stars QUESTION OF THE DAY Is Space Force an important part of the US defense architecture? [Yes, it‘s vital]( [No, it‘s unnecessary]( [An expensive toy]( [A smokescreen]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Bankers are most at risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence, according to 43 percent of you, followed by lawyers, engineers, then doctors. 43% Banker 32% Lawyer 19% Engineer 6% Doctor ENGINEER'S ARSENAL [AdirPro 6 in. Laser Scanning for Target]( [MAGPIE VH-80 Laser Measurement Tool]( [Mitutoyo 505-742J Dial Caliper]( [DEWALT ATOMIC™ 20V MAX* Brushless 1/2 in. Ratchet]( AND ANOTHER THING - [Humanoid robot GR-1 to aid aging population in China]( - [NASA begins tests on most powerful solar electric propulsion thrusters]( - [Scientist protects crafts from space debris in the Earth-Moon region]( - [Organ-on-a-chip's potential to revolutionize biomedical research]( [premium] - Video: [First-of-its-kind microscope captures stunning views of the brain]( - [INNengine's e-REX motor offers highly-efficient, 1-stroke engine technology]( - [This new fire-proof material is made from fungus and could save your home]( - Sloth-bone pendants indicate [humans arrived in South America 25,000 years ago]( - [Japanese researcher's 'tooth regrowth' treatment to begin human trials]( - [NASA scraps $50 million asteroid probe mission]( , science targets now 'inaccessible' - The Matrix or the Holodeck: [What will the future of gaming look like?]( [premium] Need help with advertising? Reach 150,000 engineering and tech professionals. [Contact us](mailto:sales@interestingengineering.com?subject=Newsletter Sponsorship) what else? For the week’s top engineering stories, subscribe to [Vital Component]( For expert advice on engineering careers, subscribe to [Engineer Pros]( © Copyright 2023 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 530 Fifth Ave, 9th floor New York, NY 10036, USA All Rights Reserved You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage your e-mail preferences [here.]( Unsubscribe from our emails [here.]( See our full [privacy policy]( or [terms of conditions](.