I think the first time I heard the term “mothership” was in the sci-fi movie “Independence Day.” The term is now commonly used to reference a space ship that can deploy and recover smaller versions of itself. However, up until now this concept was only science fiction.
Well, according to a recent Breaking Defense article, DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, successfully recovered an X-61 Gremlin Air Vehicle (drone) into a C-130 acting like it’s “mothership.” The X-61’s are intended to be deployed in a “swarm” from their mothership, complete their assigned missions, then be retrieved by their mothership.
The article about the program is very interesting, however realizing that there will soon be “motherships” and their “young” roaming the skies does give me a slight chill of things that are no longer science fiction. – Dr. Tom
Mechanical PE Exam Prep That Works
Pay-As-You-Go and Start for Only $50!
