Spacecraft

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)

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)

Boeing Galaxy VII Satellite Similar to the Galaxy spacecraft disabled by Russian-built “maser” in Space Wars. (Courtesy Boeing)

As the XOV spaceplane ascends above Earth’s atmosphere, the sky darkens from deep blue to the black of space. (Courtesy NASA)

Intelligence Satellite being attacked by Ground-Based Laser (Courtesy Erik Simonsen)

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)