USAF, Lockheed test ICBM reentry vehicle Mk21A for $130 billion program, Strong, 5x stretchable ‘glassy gels’ pave way for flexible electronics

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The US Air Force and Lockheed Martin performed a flight test of the Mk21A reentry vehicle in the Pacific Ocean on June 17.

The Mk21A is planned to ride atop the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). For the test, an unarmed Mk21A reentry vehicle launched aboard a Minotaur I rocket on June 17 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

The Mk21A is an update to the operational Mk21 that is mounted to the Minuteman III ICBM. For more on this development, check out today’s Must-Read.

🔥Today’s job of the day as featured on jobs.interestingengineering.com:

> Senior QA Engineer, Automation, Roku
> Senior Backend Engineer, Spotify

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MUST READ

🔍 USAF, Lockheed test ICBM reentry vehicle Mk21A for $130 billion program

Both the US Air Force and Lockheed Martin have released little in the way of concrete information regarding the Mk21A flight test.

However, Lockheed said that it tested key design elements and technologies for the reentry vehicle. These include an arming and fuzing subsystem as well as support equipment.

The test was carried out under Lockheed Martin’s Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract with the Air Force Nuclear Systems Center. Lockheed Martin added that the Mk21A program is on schedule and that data from the latest flight test will inform future design tweaks and goals for future tests.

🔍 Strong, 5x stretchable ‘glassy gels’ pave way for flexible electronics

Researchers have created a material that is both hard and stretchy. Sounds impossible, right? Well, that’s exactly what glassy gels are.

Researchers from North Carolina State University created this new class of materials, which contains more than 50% liquid.

The creators highlight that the manufacturing process of glassy gels is straightforward and has the potential to create flexible electronics and wearable devices.

🛰️ ISS live streams astronaut sickness, NASA calls it a medical drill

Viewers tuning into a recent live stream of the International Space Station (ISS) experienced an unexpected event. They came across an emergency medical scenario unfolding at the orbital station.

But hold on! Before you hit the panic button, NASA posted a statement on the X (previously Twitter ) clarifying that the live stream was only a “medical drill.”

“There is no emergency situation going on aboard the International Space Station,” announced the post of an ISS account on X. “Audio was inadvertently misrouted from an ongoing simulation where crew members and ground teams train for various scenarios in space.”

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