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He lives outside Indianapolis.","url":"https://www.popsci.com/authors/andrew-paul/","image":"https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_7309.jpeg?quality=85","sameAs":["https://www.twitter.com/anandypaul"]}],"headline":"Watch the first commercial supersonic test flight in over 20 years","datePublished":"2024-11-19T11:10:21-05:00","dateModified":"2024-11-19T11:10:21-05:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.popsci.com/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/"},"wordCount":526,"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.popsci.com/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.popsci.com/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Orbit.png?quality=85","keywords":["News","rockets"],"articleSection":["Aviation","Engineering","Private Space Flight","Science","Space","Technology"],"inLanguage":"en-US","ArticleBody":"On November 19th, Dawn Aerospace confirmed that it ended the more than 20-year pause on civilian supersonic flight. According to its Tuesday announcement, the company based in New Zealand and the Netherlands successfully launched and landed its rocket-powered MK-II Aurora on November 12th from Glentanner Aerodrome near Aoraki Mount Cook. The prototype reportedly set a world record in the process, marking the fastest aircraft to ascend from ground level to 66,000 ft in 118.6 seconds—surpassing a milestone by 4.2 secons set in the 1970s by souped-up F-15 “Streak Eagle” The MK-11 Aurora also reached an apex altitude of 82,500 ft, over twice as high as flying commercial passenger planes, at a speed of roughly Mach 1.1.\n\n\n\n“With flight test 57, we retired the final major technical risk in the Aurora program: vehicle dynamics through the transonic regime,” Dawn Aerospace CEO Stefan Powell said, who added that plans to begin commercial payload operations will begin “in the coming months” under the brand, Dawn Hypersonics.\n\n\n\n\nThe view from Aurora MK-II's rear engine camera during its ascent. Credit: Dawn Aerospace\n\n\n\nAn engine camera captures Earth's curvature during the Aurora MK-II flight. Credit: Dawn Aerospace\n\n\n\n\nUnlike the last commercial supersonic jet, the Concorde, Aurora planes aren’t currently designed to ferry intercontinental passengers. Instead, Dawn Aerospace wants their 13-feet-wide, 16-feet-long vehicles to function as cheaper, simpler, and more eco-friendly delivery system options compared to SpaceX and Blue Origin. Like those companies, Aurora aircraft will primarily focus on transport satellites and other scientific payloads ranging from about 66-to-1,102 lbs into orbit above Earth. Thanks to their rapid flight times and reusability, however, Dawn Aerospace intends their planes to fly twice a day with minimal turnaround time.\n\n\n\nAurora uses a non-toxic propulsion combination of nitrous oxide and propylene stored as liquid gasses under vapor pressure. During takeoff and flight, the aircraft’s rocket thrust-to-weight ratio is reportedly 20 times higher than conventional jetplane engines and capable of operating beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Dawn Aerospace also plans to launch and land their vehicles using standard runways around the world. Dawn Aerospace wants its Aurora MK-II to usher in a new age of rocket-powered planes.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Aurora MK-II isn’t the final version of Dawn Aerospace’s reusable, rocket-powered planes. Once all testing is complete during this phase, the company plans to build an MK-III that will ultimately reach Mach 3.5 during its ascent and re-entry twice a day. In addition to satellite payloads, the company hopes its aircraft will deploy for atmospheric sampling, remote sensing, and even some emergency response scenarios.\n\n\n\nSuch speeds and flight frequencies, however, will likely be noisy events. One of the chief complaints about planes such as the Concorde was the racket generated by their 105 decibel sonic booms—and that was at about Mach 2.2, not MK-III’s Mach 3.5 goal. Multiple companies and agencies such as Lockheed Martin and NASA have spent years designing and testing “quieter” designs such as the X-59. It's unclear just how loud Dawn Aerospace’s reusable Aurora planes will be, but their sound levels will likely be a factor in how often, and where, they conduct their future flights."},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.popsci.com/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/","url":"https://www.popsci.com/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/","name":"Watch the first commercial supersonic test flight in over 20 years | Popular Science","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.popsci.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.popsci.com/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.popsci.com/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Orbit.png?quality=85","datePublished":"2024-11-19T11:10:21-05:00","dateModified":"2024-11-19T11:10:21-05:00","description":"Dawn Aerospace wants its Aurora MK-II to usher in a new age of rocket-powered planes.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.popsci.com/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://www.popsci.com/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://www.popsci.com/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/#primaryimage","url":"https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Orbit.png?quality=85","contentUrl":"https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Orbit.png?quality=85","width":2000,"height":1125,"caption":"Dawn Aerospace's aircraft are designed to be flown twice a day."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.popsci.com/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":"https://www.popsci.com/category/technology/","description":"From our phones and smart assistants to transportation, the military, and cybersecurity—this is the latest on the technology shaping life on Earth and beyond.","name":"Technology"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":"https://www.popsci.com/category/aviation/","description":"The high-flying world of airliners, air taxis, fighter jets, tankers, large drones, and whatever else whisks us through the skies.","name":"Aviation"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Watch the first commercial supersonic test flight in over 20 years"}],"numberOfItems":3,"itemListOrder":"Ascending","@context":"https://schema.org"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.popsci.com/#website","url":"https://www.popsci.com/","name":"Popular Science","description":"Awe-inspiring science reporting, technology news, and DIY projects. Skunks to space robots, primates to climates. That's Popular Science, 150 years strong.","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.popsci.com/#organization"},"alternateName":"PopSci","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.popsci.com/#organization","name":"Popular Science","alternateName":"PopSci","url":"https://www.popsci.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https://www.popsci.com/#/schema/logo/image/","url":"https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/06/pop-sci-logo-default.jpg?quality=85","contentUrl":"https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/06/pop-sci-logo-default.jpg?quality=85","width":2000,"height":1200,"caption":"Popular Science"},"image":{"@id":"https://www.popsci.com/#/schema/logo/image/"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/PopSci/","https://x.com/popsci"],"publishingPrinciples":"https://www.popsci.com/editorial-standards/"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.popsci.com#/schema/person/4d531e900921a9827d0724acd032c2e9","name":"Andrew Paul","description":"Andrew Paul is Popular Science's staff writer primarily focused on tech news. 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class="recurrent-article-full-width-hero mb-5" aria-label="Article Hero"> <nav class="article-breadcrumbs-wrapper mb-2" aria-label="Article breadcrumbs"> <nav class="breadcrumb-container hover" aria-label="Breadcrumbs"><a class="breadcrumb-link no-underline hover:no-underline font-tertiary font-semibold text-accent-900 text-xs uppercase tracking-wide" href="https://www.popsci.com/category/technology/">Technology</a> <div class="breadcrumb-arrow relative inline-block ml-1 mr-2 h-0 w-0 border-y-[4px] border-y-transparent border-l-[8px] border-l-primary-900 -top-[1px]"></div></nav><nav class="breadcrumb-container hover" aria-label="Breadcrumbs"><a class="breadcrumb-link no-underline hover:no-underline font-tertiary font-semibold text-accent-900 text-xs uppercase tracking-wide" href="https://www.popsci.com/category/aviation/">Aviation</a> </nav> </nav> <h1 class="article-title font-primary text-secondary-900 text-4xl lg:text-15xl font-bold leading-2xl lg:leading-15xl mb-2">Watch the first commercial supersonic test flight in over 20 years</h1> <div class="article-dek font-secondary text-base lg:text-2xl mb-2">Dawn Aerospace wants its Aurora MK-II to usher in a new age of rocket-powered planes. </div> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2"> <div class="article-byline overflow-hidden lg:flex lg:flex-wrap lg:gap-2 w-full mb-2 "> <div class="item-wrapper--author item-wrapper flex items-center mr-3"> <div class="byline-author-wrapper flex relative"> <p class="byline-item byline-item-author font-tertiary font-normal text-sm text-primary capitalize"> <span class="recurrent-byline"><span class="byline-segment"><span class="byline-text">By </span><a class="hover-link no-underline hover:underline" href="https://www.popsci.com/authors/andrew-paul/">Andrew Paul</a></span></span> </p> </div> </div> <div class="item-wrapper--date item-wrapper flex items-center mr-3"> <div class="byline-date-wrapper flex relative"> <p class="byline-item byline-item-timestamp font-tertiary font-normal text-sm text-primary mb-0">Posted on Nov 19, 2024</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="article-layout-wrapper w-full flex flex-col lg:flex-row gap-5 max-w-full"> <article id="post-672866" class="flex-auto post-672866 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-aviation category-engineering category-private-space-flight category-science category-space category-technology tag-news tag-rockets author_tag-andrew-paul content_type-1-group content_type-2-page-type content_type-3-timeframe content_type-news content_type-non-evergreen content_type-non-membership"> <div class="featured-video mb-3 aspect-video pt-5"> <iframe width="100%" height="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XjIlE-RZUmw" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media;" allowfullscreen> </iframe> </div> <section class="entry-content py-8 max-w-[730px] lg:mx-auto" data-module="TableOfContents"> <section class="recurrent-share lg:px-0 mb-5" data-post-id="672866" 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href="mailto:?subject=Watch%20the%20first%20commercial%20supersonic%20test%20flight%20in%20over%2020%20years&body=https://www.popsci.com/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/" aria-label="Share via Email" data-name="Email"> <svg class="email-icon social-icon" viewBox="0 0 512 512" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="m434.146 59.882h-389.234c-24.766 0-44.912 20.146-44.912 44.912v269.47c0 24.766 20.146 44.912 44.912 44.912h389.234c24.766 0 44.912-20.146 44.912-44.912v-269.47c0-24.766-20.146-44.912-44.912-44.912zm0 29.941c2.034 0 3.969.422 5.738 1.159l-200.355 173.649-200.356-173.649c1.769-.736 3.704-1.159 5.738-1.159zm0 299.411h-389.234c-8.26 0-14.971-6.71-14.971-14.971v-251.648l199.778 173.141c2.822 2.441 6.316 3.655 9.81 3.655s6.988-1.213 9.81-3.655l199.778-173.141v251.649c-.001 8.26-6.711 14.97-14.971 14.97z"/> </svg> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </section> <div class="content-wrapper" data-toc-container> <p class="article-paragraph skip">On November 19th, Dawn Aerospace confirmed that it ended the more than 20-year pause on civilian <a href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/how-fast-is-supersonic-flight/" target="_blank">supersonic flight</a>. According to its <a href="https://www.dawnaerospace.com/latest-news/supersonic" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Tuesday announcement</a>, the company based in New Zealand and the Netherlands successfully launched and landed its rocket-powered MK-II Aurora on November 12th from Glentanner Aerodrome near Aoraki Mount Cook. The prototype reportedly set a world record in the process, marking the fastest aircraft to ascend from ground level to 66,000 ft in 118.6 seconds—surpassing a milestone by 4.2 secons set in the 1970s by souped-up F-15 “<a href="https://theaviationgeekclub.com/how-the-f-15-streak-eagle-broke-eight-time-to-climb-world-records/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Streak Eagle</a>” The MK-11 Aurora also reached an apex altitude of 82,500 ft, over twice as high as flying commercial passenger planes, at a speed of roughly Mach 1.1.</p> <p class="article-paragraph skip">“With flight test 57, we retired the final major technical risk in the Aurora program: vehicle dynamics through the transonic regime,” Dawn Aerospace CEO Stefan Powell said, who added that plans to begin commercial payload operations will begin “in the coming months” under the brand, Dawn Hypersonics.</p> <figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped is-style-rectangular wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="500" height="667" loading="lazy" data-id="672868" src="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?strip=all&quality=85" alt="The view from Aurora MK-II's rear engine camera during its ascent. Credit: Dawn Aerospace" class="wp-image-672868" srcset="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png 500w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?w=337&h=450 337w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?w=150&h=200 150w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?w=495&h=660 495w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?w=300&h=400 300w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?w=162&h=216 162w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?w=303&h=404 303w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?w=280&h=374 280w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?w=289&h=386 289w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?w=370&h=494 370w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?w=308&h=411 308w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Engine-Cam.png?w=37&h=50 37w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">T<em>he view from Aurora MK-II’s rear engine camera during its ascent. Credit: Dawn Aerospace</em> </figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="500" height="889" loading="lazy" data-id="672869" src="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?strip=all&quality=85" alt="The view from Aurora MK-II's rear engine camera during its ascent. Credit: Dawn Aerospace" class="wp-image-672869" srcset="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg 500w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=253&h=450 253w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=112&h=200 112w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=371&h=660 371w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=225&h=400 225w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=470&h=836 470w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=388&h=690 388w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=121&h=216 121w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=227&h=404 227w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=423&h=752 423w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=390&h=694 390w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=280&h=498 280w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=289&h=514 289w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=370&h=658 370w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=308&h=548 308w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Aurora-Wing-Cam.jpg?w=28&h=50 28w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>An engine camera captures Earth’s curvature during the Aurora MK-II flight. Credit: Dawn Aerospace</em> </figcaption></figure> </figure> <p class="article-paragraph skip">Unlike the last commercial supersonic jet, the <a href="https://www.popsci.com/supersonic-plane-next-generation/" target="_blank">Concorde</a>, Aurora planes aren’t <a href="https://www.dawnaerospace.com/spacelaunch#specifications" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">currently designed</a> to ferry intercontinental passengers. Instead, Dawn Aerospace wants their 13-feet-wide, 16-feet-long vehicles to function as cheaper, simpler, and more eco-friendly delivery system options compared to <a href="https://www.popsci.com/category/spacex/" target="_blank">SpaceX</a> and <a href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/blue-origin-nasa-lunar-lander/" target="_blank">Blue Origin</a>. Like those companies, Aurora aircraft will primarily focus on transport satellites and other scientific payloads ranging from about 66-to-1,102 lbs into orbit above Earth. Thanks to their rapid flight times and reusability, however, Dawn Aerospace intends their planes to fly twice a day with minimal turnaround time.</p> <p class="article-paragraph skip">Aurora uses a non-toxic propulsion combination of nitrous oxide and propylene stored as liquid gasses under vapor pressure. During takeoff and flight, the aircraft’s rocket thrust-to-weight ratio is reportedly 20 times higher than conventional jetplane engines and capable of operating beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Dawn Aerospace also plans to launch and land their vehicles using standard runways around the world. Dawn Aerospace wants its Aurora MK-II to usher in a new age of rocket-powered planes.<br></p> <section class="recurrent-newsletter-block recurrent-newsletter-email-block recurrent-blocks bg-newsletter mb-8 lg:relative lg:left-2/4 lg:-translate-x-2/4 "> <div class="container newsletter-container mx-auto p-0 flex flex-col lg:flex-row"> <div class="newsletter-content flex-1 p-6 pb-4 lg:basis-2/4 lg:flex lg:flex-col lg:justify-center"> <h2 class="newsletter-cta-title font-primary font-semibold text-2xl text-newsletter-copy leading-2xl mb-3 lg:text-4xl"> Get the Popular Science newsletter </h2> <div class="newsletter-cta-description font-secondary font-normal text-base text-newsletter-copy leading-base mb-4"> </div> <div class="newsletter-signup-form-wrapper"> <form class="flex flex-col md:flex-row gap-2 mb-3" method="post" action="https://www.popsci.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" onsubmit="NewsletterModule.handleSubmit(event)"> <input type="hidden" name="vars[source]" value="PSInline"> <label class="sr-only" for="email">Email address</label> <input type="email" name="email" id="email" class="newsletter-email-input w-full md:w-2/3 rounded" placeholder="Enter your email" pattern="^[\p{L}\p{N}\p{M}\p{S}\p{P}\p{Cf}]+@([\p{L}\p{N}-]+\.)+[\p{L}]{2,}$" title="Please enter a valid email address" required /> <button type="submit" class="newsletter-direct-link btn button-newsletter w-full md:w-1/3 max-w-lg font-primary py-3 px-6"> Sign up </button> <span class="newsletter-signup-success bg-newsletter text-newsletter-copy">Thank you!</span> <input type="hidden" name="action" value="handle_newsletter_email_submission"> <input type="hidden" id="newsletter_nonce" name="newsletter_nonce" value="860272c218" /><input type="hidden" name="_wp_http_referer" value="/technology/commercial-supersonic-test-flight/" /> </form> </div> <div class="newsletter-cta-disclaimer font-secondary font-normal text-sm text-newsletter-copy leading-extra-tight"> <p class="article-paragraph skip">By signing up you agree to our <a href="https://recurrent.io/terms-and-conditions/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">Terms of Service</a> and<a href="https://recurrent.io/privacy-policy/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"> Privacy Policy.</a></p> </div> </div> </div> </section> <p class="article-paragraph skip">The Aurora MK-II isn’t the final version of Dawn Aerospace’s reusable, rocket-powered planes. Once all testing is complete during this phase, the company plans to build an MK-III that will ultimately reach Mach 3.5 during its ascent and re-entry twice a day. In addition to satellite payloads, the company hopes its aircraft will deploy for atmospheric sampling, remote sensing, and even some emergency response scenarios.</p> <p class="article-paragraph skip">Such speeds and flight frequencies, however, will likely be noisy events. One of the chief complaints about planes such as the Concorde was the racket generated by their 105 decibel sonic booms—and that was at about Mach 2.2, not MK-III’s Mach 3.5 goal. <a href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/boom-supersonic-air-force-funding/" target="_blank">Multiple companies</a> and agencies such as Lockheed Martin and NASA have spent years designing and testing “quieter” designs <a href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/x-59-supersonic-jet-unveil/" target="_blank">such as the X-59</a>. It’s unclear just how loud Dawn Aerospace’s reusable Aurora planes will be, but their sound levels will likely be a factor in how often, and where, they conduct their future flights.</p> <section class="content-widget content-widget--large"> <span class="block bg-secondary-300 h-2 w-16 mt-10 mb-8"> </span> <div class="flex flex-col md:flex-row items-start justify-items-start"> <div class="mb-4 md:mb-0 md:w-4/12 w-full"> <img width="300" height="169" src="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?quality=85&w=300" class="max-w-[100%]" alt="" srcset="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg 1920w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=768&h=432 768w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=1536&h=864 1536w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=800&h=450 800w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/ps-ggs.jpg?w=356&h=200 356w, 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your home </span> <span class="desktop hidden lg:inline-block hover-link">If your eyes and sinuses feel dry right now, you need this $29 Levoit humidifier in your home</span> </h3> </a> <p class="card-post-byline font-secondary font-semibold text-secondary-900 text-sm leading-tighter mt-2"> <span class="recurrent-byline"><span class="byline-segment"><span class="byline-text">By </span><a class="hover-link no-underline hover:underline" href="https://www.popsci.com/authors/stan-horaczek/">Stan Horaczek</a></span></span> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </aside> </div> </div> <aside id="article-footer" class="article-footer full-bleed lg:basis-[100%]" aria-label="Related articles to this post"> <section class="recurrent-smart-linkpacks full-bleed bg-gray-lighter py-8"> <div class="container"> <div class="incCategory grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-4 gap-x-5 gap-y-5"> <div class="col-span-full pt-8"> <h2 class="flag-heading"> More in Aviation </h2> </div> <div 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https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/10/x59_flying_004-gray-nose-aug.jpg?w=308&h=173 308w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/10/x59_flying_004-gray-nose-aug.jpg?w=50&h=28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="auto" alt="NASA plans to unveil experimental X-59 supersonic jet on January 12" /> </div> </a> <div class="post-content relative text-left"> <a class="card-post-title-link" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/x-59-supersonic-jet-unveil/" > <h3 class="card-post-title font-primary font-bold text-base lg:text-xl text-secondary-900 leading-tight"> <span class="mobile lg:hidden hover-link"> NASA plans to unveil experimental X-59 supersonic jet on January 12 </span> <span class="desktop hidden lg:inline-block hover-link">NASA plans to unveil experimental X-59 supersonic jet on January 12</span> </h3> </a> <p class="card-post-byline font-secondary font-semibold text-secondary-900 text-sm leading-tighter mt-2"> <span class="recurrent-byline"><span class="byline-segment"><span class="byline-text">By </span><a class="hover-link no-underline hover:underline" href="https://www.popsci.com/authors/andrew-paul/">Andrew Paul</a></span></span> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-3"> <div class="card-post linkpack-post"> <a class="card-post-image-link block mb-4" aria-hidden tabindex="-1" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/how-fast-is-supersonic-flight/" > <div class="relative"> <img class="archive-post-thumb w-full aspect-thumbnail object-cover rounded-grid-post" src="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/01/supersonic-shock-waves-side-view.jpg?quality=85&w=800" srcset="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/01/supersonic-shock-waves-side-view.jpg 2000w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/01/supersonic-shock-waves-side-view.jpg?w=768&h=432 768w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/01/supersonic-shock-waves-side-view.jpg?w=1536&h=864 1536w, 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sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="auto" alt="H2FLY hydrogen fuel plane in flight" /> </div> </a> <div class="post-content relative text-left"> <a class="card-post-title-link" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/cryo-hydrogen-plane-h2fly/" > <h3 class="card-post-title font-primary font-bold text-base lg:text-xl text-secondary-900 leading-tight"> <span class="mobile lg:hidden hover-link"> This liquid hydrogen-powered plane successfully completed its first test flights </span> <span class="desktop hidden lg:inline-block hover-link">This liquid hydrogen-powered plane successfully completed its first test flights</span> </h3> </a> <p class="card-post-byline font-secondary font-semibold text-secondary-900 text-sm leading-tighter mt-2"> <span class="recurrent-byline"><span class="byline-segment"><span class="byline-text">By </span><a class="hover-link no-underline hover:underline" href="https://www.popsci.com/authors/andrew-paul/">Andrew 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text-secondary-900 text-sm leading-tighter mt-2"> <span class="recurrent-byline"><span class="byline-segment"><span class="byline-text">By </span><a class="hover-link no-underline hover:underline" href="https://www.popsci.com/authors/andrew-paul/">Andrew Paul</a></span></span> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-3"> <div class="card-post linkpack-post"> <a class="card-post-image-link block mb-4" aria-hidden tabindex="-1" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/eniac-history/" > <div class="relative"> <img class="archive-post-thumb w-full aspect-thumbnail object-cover rounded-grid-post object-center" src="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?quality=85&w=800" srcset="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png 2000w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=768&h=432 768w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=1536&h=864 1536w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=800&h=450 800w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=356&h=200 356w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=1173&h=660 1173w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=711&h=400 711w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=1486&h=836 1486w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=1227&h=690 1227w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=384&h=216 384w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=718&h=404 718w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=1589&h=894 1589w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=1337&h=752 1337w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=1234&h=694 1234w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=280&h=158 280w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=1440&h=810 1440w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=289&h=163 289w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=370&h=208 370w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=308&h=173 308w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/valentine_subtle.png?w=50&h=28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="auto" alt="Valentine’s Day 1946: The first general-purpose electronic computer blossoms" /> </div> </a> <div class="post-content relative text-left"> <a class="card-post-title-link" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/eniac-history/" > <h3 class="card-post-title font-primary font-bold text-base lg:text-xl text-secondary-900 leading-tight"> <span class="mobile lg:hidden hover-link"> Valentine’s Day 1946: The first general-purpose electronic computer blossoms </span> <span class="desktop hidden lg:inline-block hover-link">Valentine’s Day 1946: The first general-purpose electronic computer blossoms</span> </h3> </a> <p class="card-post-byline font-secondary font-semibold text-secondary-900 text-sm leading-tighter mt-2"> <span class="recurrent-byline"><span class="byline-segment"><span class="byline-text">By </span><a class="hover-link no-underline hover:underline" href="https://www.popsci.com/authors/bill-gourgey/">Bill Gourgey</a></span></span> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-3"> <div class="card-post linkpack-post"> <a class="card-post-image-link block mb-4" aria-hidden tabindex="-1" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/spacehopper-zero-gravity/" > <div class="relative"> <img class="archive-post-thumb w-full aspect-thumbnail object-cover rounded-grid-post" src="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?quality=85&w=800" srcset="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg 2000w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=768&h=432 768w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=1536&h=864 1536w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=800&h=450 800w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=356&h=200 356w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=1173&h=660 1173w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=711&h=400 711w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=1486&h=836 1486w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=1227&h=690 1227w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=384&h=216 384w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=718&h=404 718w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=1589&h=894 1589w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=1337&h=752 1337w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=1234&h=694 1234w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=280&h=158 280w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=1440&h=810 1440w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=289&h=163 289w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=370&h=208 370w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=308&h=173 308w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/12/4850_NICO_NC.jpg?w=50&h=28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="auto" alt="SpaceHopper robot in midair during parabolic flight test" /> </div> </a> <div class="post-content relative text-left"> <a class="card-post-title-link" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/spacehopper-zero-gravity/" > <h3 class="card-post-title font-primary font-bold text-base lg:text-xl text-secondary-900 leading-tight"> <span class="mobile lg:hidden hover-link"> Watch a tripod robot test its asteroid leaping skills </span> <span class="desktop hidden lg:inline-block hover-link">Watch a tripod robot test its asteroid leaping skills</span> </h3> </a> <p class="card-post-byline font-secondary font-semibold text-secondary-900 text-sm leading-tighter mt-2"> <span class="recurrent-byline"><span class="byline-segment"><span class="byline-text">By </span><a class="hover-link no-underline hover:underline" href="https://www.popsci.com/authors/andrew-paul/">Andrew Paul</a></span></span> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-3"> <div class="card-post linkpack-post"> <a class="card-post-image-link block mb-4" aria-hidden tabindex="-1" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/space-solar-power-mission-end/" > <div class="relative"> <img class="archive-post-thumb w-full aspect-thumbnail object-cover rounded-grid-post" src="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?quality=85&w=800" srcset="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg 2000w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=768&h=432 768w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=1536&h=864 1536w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=800&h=450 800w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=356&h=200 356w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=1173&h=660 1173w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=711&h=400 711w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=1486&h=836 1486w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=1227&h=690 1227w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=384&h=216 384w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=718&h=404 718w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=1589&h=894 1589w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=1337&h=752 1337w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=1234&h=694 1234w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=280&h=158 280w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=1440&h=810 1440w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=289&h=163 289w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=370&h=208 370w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=308&h=173 308w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/16/Space_Solar_Power_Demonstrator-1692674108_q.max-1400x800-1.jpg?w=50&h=28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="auto" alt="A colorized view of the DOLCE structure finalizing its uncoiling process, as seen from the boom camera, over Antarctica, on August 22, 2023." /> </div> </a> <div class="post-content relative text-left"> <a class="card-post-title-link" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/space-solar-power-mission-end/" > <h3 class="card-post-title font-primary font-bold text-base lg:text-xl text-secondary-900 leading-tight"> <span class="mobile lg:hidden hover-link"> The first-ever space solar power tests are finished after a year in orbit </span> <span class="desktop hidden lg:inline-block hover-link">The first-ever space solar power tests are finished after a year in orbit</span> </h3> </a> <p class="card-post-byline font-secondary font-semibold text-secondary-900 text-sm leading-tighter mt-2"> <span class="recurrent-byline"><span class="byline-segment"><span class="byline-text">By </span><a class="hover-link no-underline hover:underline" href="https://www.popsci.com/authors/andrew-paul/">Andrew Paul</a></span></span> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-3"> <div class="card-post linkpack-post"> <a class="card-post-image-link block mb-4" aria-hidden tabindex="-1" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/virgin-galactic-second-flight/" > <div class="relative"> <img class="archive-post-thumb w-full aspect-thumbnail object-cover rounded-grid-post" src="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?quality=85&w=800" srcset="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png 2000w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=768&h=432 768w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=1536&h=864 1536w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=800&h=450 800w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=356&h=200 356w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=1173&h=660 1173w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=711&h=400 711w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=1486&h=836 1486w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=1227&h=690 1227w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=384&h=216 384w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=718&h=404 718w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=1589&h=894 1589w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=1337&h=752 1337w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=1234&h=694 1234w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=280&h=158 280w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=1440&h=810 1440w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=289&h=163 289w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=370&h=208 370w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=308&h=173 308w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/10/G01_Flightday_SelectsUprez17.png?w=50&h=28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="auto" alt="Virgin Galactic VSS Unity spacecraft orbiting Earth" /> </div> </a> <div class="post-content relative text-left"> <a class="card-post-title-link" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/virgin-galactic-second-flight/" > <h3 class="card-post-title font-primary font-bold text-base lg:text-xl text-secondary-900 leading-tight"> <span class="mobile lg:hidden hover-link"> Virgin Galactic’s second commercial flight sent three tourists to space’s edge </span> <span class="desktop hidden lg:inline-block hover-link">Virgin Galactic’s second commercial flight sent three tourists to space’s edge</span> </h3> </a> <p class="card-post-byline font-secondary font-semibold text-secondary-900 text-sm leading-tighter mt-2"> <span class="recurrent-byline"><span class="byline-segment"><span class="byline-text">By </span><a class="hover-link no-underline hover:underline" href="https://www.popsci.com/authors/andrew-paul/">Andrew Paul</a></span></span> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-3"> <div class="card-post linkpack-post"> <a class="card-post-image-link block mb-4" aria-hidden tabindex="-1" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/railgun-ship-japan/" > <div class="relative"> <img class="archive-post-thumb w-full aspect-thumbnail object-cover rounded-grid-post" src="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?quality=85&w=800" srcset="https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg 2000w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=768&h=432 768w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=1536&h=864 1536w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=800&h=450 800w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=356&h=200 356w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=1173&h=660 1173w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=711&h=400 711w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=1486&h=836 1486w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=1227&h=690 1227w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=384&h=216 384w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=718&h=404 718w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=1589&h=894 1589w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=1337&h=752 1337w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=1234&h=694 1234w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=280&h=158 280w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=1440&h=810 1440w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=289&h=163 289w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=370&h=208 370w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=308&h=173 308w, https://www.popsci.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/01/railgun.jpg?w=50&h=28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="auto" alt="Watch a Japanese research ship fire an electromagnetic railgun" /> </div> </a> <div class="post-content relative text-left"> <a class="card-post-title-link" href="https://www.popsci.com/technology/railgun-ship-japan/" > <h3 class="card-post-title font-primary font-bold text-base lg:text-xl text-secondary-900 leading-tight"> <span class="mobile lg:hidden hover-link"> Watch a Japanese research ship fire an electromagnetic railgun </span> <span class="desktop hidden lg:inline-block hover-link">Watch a Japanese research ship fire an electromagnetic railgun</span> </h3> </a> <p class="card-post-byline font-secondary font-semibold text-secondary-900 text-sm leading-tighter mt-2"> <span class="recurrent-byline"><span class="byline-segment"><span class="byline-text">By </span><a class="hover-link no-underline hover:underline" href="https://www.popsci.com/authors/kelsey-d-atherton/">Kelsey D. 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