Brett Tingley
Brett is curious about emerging aerospace technologies, alternative launch concepts, military space developments and uncrewed aircraft systems. Brett's work has appeared on Scientific American, The War Zone, Popular Science, the History Channel, Science Discovery and more. Brett has English degrees from Clemson University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In his free time, Brett enjoys skywatching throughout the dark skies of the Appalachian mountains.
Latest articles by Brett Tingley
Boeing to test DARPA's upcoming 'Glide Breaker' hypersonic interceptor
By Brett Tingley published
DARPA has chosen Boeing to develop a prototype and conduct flight testing of its upcoming Glide Breaker hypersonic interceptor.
Atlas V rocket launches the Space Force's Silent Barker 'watchdog' satellites in dazzling morning liftoff (video)
By Brett Tingley last updated
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched the multi-payload Silent Barker mission for the Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office Sunday, Sept. 10.
The US Space Force has a new mission statement to secure everything 'in, from and to space'
By Brett Tingley published
The United States Space Force has unveiled a concise new mission statement after the service's top officer criticized the previous statement as 'long and cumbersome.'
Hurricane Lee looks absolutely terrifying in this footage from inside its eye (video)
By Brett Tingley published
Storm chasers with the Air Force Reserve's Hurricane Hunters caught terrifying footage from inside the eye of Hurricane Lee on Sept. 8, showing the storm brimming with lightning.
Newfound Comet Nishimura got its tail blown off by a solar storm. It grew back and still looks gorgeous (photos)
By Brett Tingley published
Astrophotographers worldwide have been snapping incredible photos of Comet Nishimura as it makes its way through the solar system.
See the Great Square of Pegasus trot through the night sky this month
By Brett Tingley published
Look to the east in the evenings throughout September to find the Great Square of Pegasus, a group of four stars of roughly equal brightness, as it climbs higher in the night sky.
US military scrubs hypersonic missile test launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
By Brett Tingley published
A suspected test launch of a new hypersonic missile system from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was cancelled on Wednesday (Sept. 6).
US test launches unarmed ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base
By Brett Tingley published
The United States Space and Air Forces launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile 4,200 miles (6,760 km) on Sept. 6 from Vandenberg Space Force in California.
Pentagon UFO office unveils official website for US government personnel to report sightings
By Brett Tingley published
The Pentagon's official office for addressing UFOs has a new website where U.S. government and military personnel can report their own sightings.
The rare Super Blue Moon rises tonight and you can watch it online for free
By Brett Tingley last updated
The Virtual Telescope Project will host a free livestream of the Super Blue Moon of 2023 starting at 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 (0330 GMT on Aug. 31).
Hackers shut down 2 of the world's most advanced telescopes
By Brett Tingley published
The U.S. National Science Foundation reported that a cybersecurity incident has temporarily shut down operations at its Gemini North Telescope in Hawaii and Gemini South Telescope in Chile.
Satellites watch powerful Hurricanes Idalia and Franklin churn (video)
By Brett Tingley published
Weather satellites in orbit above Earth are watching Hurricane Idalia and Hurricane Franklin as they pick up strength in ocean waters off the southern coast of the United States.
The CIA knows a lot about other nations' space programs. You can too with its new 'World Factbook' update
By Brett Tingley published
The United States Central Intelligence Agency, better known as the CIA, has released a new entry in its World Factbook that catalogues the programs and milestones of space agencies around the world.
See Saturn at its biggest and brightest of 2023 this weekend
By Brett Tingley published
Saturn will be directly opposite of the sun on Aug. 26 and 27, making this weekend a great time to observe the ringed gas giant.
0 for 2: North Korea suffers 2nd satellite launch failure this year
By Brett Tingley published
North Korea's second attempt to launch a spy satellite this year ended in failure, after the rocket carrying the satellite encountered a stage-separation issue on Aug. 23.
India's successful Chandrayaan-3 moon landing 'belongs to all of humanity,' Prime Minister Modi says
By Brett Tingley published
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is over the moon about the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the lunar surface.
North Korea planning to launch a satellite this week amid military tensions
By Brett Tingley published
The North Korean government has announced it will attempt to launch a satellite between Aug. 24 and Aug. 31. Its previous attempt in May 2023 failed and landed in the Yellow Sea.
Spies and hackers are targeting the US space industry: report
By Brett Tingley published
The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a warning to private space companies about the threat of foreign cyberattacks and disruptions to U.S. satellites.
NASA flew a modified U-2 spy plane into thunderstorms to study super-energetic gamma-rays
By Brett Tingley published
Researchers flew NASA's ER-2 aircraft as close to thunderclouds as safely possible and captured 'the most detailed' data of gamma-rays and thunderclouds ever recorded through airborne analysis.
NASA's Lunar Trailblazer satellite is ready to hunt for water on the moon
By Brett Tingley published
The final instrument has been added to NASA's Lunar Trailblazer probe, enabling it to hunt for water on the moon's surface when it launches in early 2024.
The only Blue Moon of 2023 to shine next week
By Brett Tingley published
The Blue Moon of August 2023 rises on Aug. 30, offering skywatchers an extra treat this month with another supermoon in the sky gleaming beside a bright Saturn.
These 3 teams just hacked a US Air Force satellite in space ... and won big cash prizes
By Brett Tingley published
The U.S. Air Force has announced the winners of its first-of-its-kind satellite hacking competition, which saw teams attempt to take control of a cubesat in orbit.
US Space Force creates 1st unit dedicated to targeting adversary satellites
By Brett Tingley published
The United States Space Force has activated its first and only unit dedicated to targeting other nations' satellites and the ground stations that support them.