Robot Fighter Pilot
Artificial intelligence proves it can dogfight. What’s next?
Science fiction took another leap toward becoming science fact this past spring, when an aircraft piloted by artificial intelligence (AI) engaged in a dogfight against a human-piloted F-16.
“The potential for autonomous air-to-air combat has been imaginable for decades, but the reality has remained a distant dream up until now,” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. “This is a transformational moment.”
The unprecedented achievement is the result of a collaboration between the U.S. Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that has, over the decades, overseen the development of transformative technologies such as the computer mouse, GPS, and even the internet itself. DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution program pitted an X-62A Variable In-Flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA) against an F-16 to begin evaluating autonomous AI systems that could move beyond computer simulations and soar into the air. The scenario harks back to when earlier generations of programmers taught computers to play chess—except now the chess pieces are $60 million aircraft flying at one another at 1,200 mph. The objective of the AI flight exercise wasn’t to explicitly create a robot fighter pilot. Rather, programmers see air-to-air combat as a highly complex problem for an artificial intelligence to solve, pushing machine learning to new limits. The AI team made over 100,000 lines of flight-critical software changes across 21 test flights that began last September, culminating with the successful air-to-air combat demonstration in mid-April. The aerial battle began with defensive maneuvers before switching to offensive nose-to-nose engagements.
The Air Force is planning for an AI-enabled fleet of more than 1,000 unpiloted warplanes, the first of them operating by 2028. But officials stress that there will always be human oversight when weapons are involved. During tests, for example, the X-62A is flown with onboard safety pilots, who have the ability to disengage the AI.
NASA’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory was deployed by space shuttle Columbia on July 23, 1999.
An Astronomically Important Shuttle Mission
Twenty-five years ago this summer, space shuttle Columbia lifted off and made history. STS-93 was the first shuttle mission commanded by a woman (Eileen Collins), and it carried some very special cargo: the Chandra X-ray Observatory. One of NASA’s “Great Observatories,” Chandra is the world’s most powerful X-ray telescope. It detects X-ray emissions from extremely hot regions in the universe. Chandra’s “first light” image was released August 26, 1999—a view of supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. In the 25 years since, Chandra has made countless discoveries. Today, the telescope is operated by the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian.
Over the past 25 years, Chandra has captured arresting images of the universe, including spiral galaxies, supernovae, and massive gas clouds.
The National Air and Space Museum will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory during its annual John H. Glenn Lecture in Space History on September 25 at 8 pm ET. The event will take place at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, and will be streamed live online.
STS-93 commander Eileen Collins and mission specialist Cady Coleman will reflect on the mission that deployed the observatory. They will be joined by two scientists working with Chandra data today. Patrick Slane, director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-ray Center, and Kimberly Arcand, visualization scientist and emerging technology lead for the Chandra X-ray Observatory, will discuss the science of Chandra and share some of the most exciting discoveries from its 25 years in orbit. Learn more and register to attend.
Baked in Space
This is no ordinary cookie. This cookie was baked aboard the International Space Station during Expedition 61 in late 2019. Comfort foods and fun activities can make long stays easier to endure—and what better way to do that than baking cookies? Astronauts experimented with baking times and temperatures using a space-friendly oven designed by Zero G Kitchen, DoubleTree by Hilton, and Nanoracks. This was the fifth of five cookies. It was baked at 325°F for 130 minutes and was regarded as the best of the batch. Museum visitors can see the cookie on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
This article is from the Summer 2024 issue of Air & Space Quarterly, the National Air and Space Museum's signature magazine that explores topics in aviation and space, from the earliest moments of flight to today. Explore the full issue.
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