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Modified XB-70-like “mothership” (SR-3) drops XOV spaceplane at supersonic speeds. An XOV pilot ignites the spaceplane’s aerospike engines, accelerates to near-orbital velocity, then climbs steeply into space. (Artist’s concept courtesy of Steve Douglass)
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SR-3 Carrier Aircraft/XOV Spaceplane, the highly classified “Blackstar” two-stage system, delivers small satellites to orbit and fires “Rods from God” kinetic-energy missiles to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities in Space Wars & Counterspace. (Courtesy of Aviation Week & Space Technology)
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Boeing Galaxy VII Satellite Similar to the Galaxy spacecraft disabled by Russian-built “maser” in Space Wars. (Courtesy Boeing)
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As the XOV spaceplane ascends above Earth’s atmosphere, the sky darkens from deep blue to the black of space. (Courtesy NASA)
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Intelligence Satellite being attacked by Ground-Based Laser (Courtesy Erik Simonsen)
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Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Advanced sensors detect heat sources on Earth. Primary mission is missile-launch detection, but SBIRS also can detect heat from aircraft afterburners. (Courtesy Lockheed Martin)