Historic Highlights From the Department of War

NASA/Pablo Garcia Scientists using NASA’s IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) conducted more than 140 hours of observations of the magnetar 1E 1547-5408, shown in this Aug. 5, 2026, artist’s concept, between March and April 2025. In doing so, they may have captured empty space behaving in a way physicists have predicted for 90 years, but…

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is pictured inside the International Space Station’s Quest airlock prior to the start of the third spacewalk for the STS-134 mission. Credit: NASA NASA astronaut Mike Fincke is departing the agency on Wednesday after 30 years of service. Throughout his career, he flew four missions, spent 549 days in space, and…

Second cousins John Adams and Samuel Adams represented Massachusetts as delegates to the Second Continental Congress and are considered Founding Fathers. Source: www.war.gov

Approximately 300 cadets participated in the Space Force’s Azimuth program throughout the summer at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., where they gained exposure to its missions, organizations and guardian culture. Source: www.war.gov

Before a blast of shrapnel to his leg and arm changed his life forever, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Noah Smith spent more than 100 grueling hours holding the line against a desperate sea of humanity in Kabul, Afghanistan. Source: www.war.gov

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Telescope on board is seen transiting the sun during launch from Launch Complex 39A, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA/John Kraus Now on a three-month, million-mile journey to its final orbit, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will soon…