Facebook using UAV to provide Internet service; inflatable space tower may enable SSTO; JAXA low-boom test a success; blood samples survive delivery by UAV; radar upgrade overcomes wind-farm interference

Tethered unmanned aircraft might prove to be an attractive alternative for use by first responders, newsgatherers, infrastructure monitors and disaster relief personnel.

This week's top aerospace and defense news you need to know.

Reaction Engines gets a boost from AFRL’s validation of its Sabre engine cycle concept.

Stratolauncher studies universal payload pod for world’s largest-wingspan aircraft.

It’s been a busy week for unmanned-aircraft developments, including: naval debut for 3-D-printed UAV; Sony enters small-UAV services market; prescriptions arrive by UAV at free clinic; record claimed for swarming UAVs; unmanned wingman to the rescue; and the acoustic anti-drone sensor.

When a vortex shows the cloven hoof, the results can be dramatically undesirable.

A 1932 paper by famed German aerodynamicist Ludwig Prandtl inspires NASA Armstrong work on a tailless flying-wing aircraft that could eventually fly on Mars