📡 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?

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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.

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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 Kill. 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?

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