Pentagon gives Boeing $6.6M to build satellite-launching space drone

The Pentagon has awarded a $6.6 million contract to Boeing to design a mini space shuttle that can launch military satellites and space weapons. The craft, called the XS-1 program (eXperimental Spaceplane 1) is meant to defend against the growing threat of Russian and Chinese space weapons and could launch as early as 2019 for its first test mission, Defense Systems reported. The Pentagon has been looking to reduce the cost of satellite launches for some time and hopes the new shuttle-like, reusable unmanned vehicle will achieve that goal. More

(Source: Washington Times - Aug 9)