All about Microsoft's rocket plan, Russia's space arms plan, Sweden's nuclear reactors

The space company of billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen on Monday unveiled details of medium-lift rockets and a reusable space cargo plane it is developing, injecting more competition into the lucrative launch services market.

Paul Allen's space firm details plans for rockets, a cargo vehicle

The space company of billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen on Monday unveiled details of medium-lift rockets and a reusable space cargo plane it is developing, injecting more competition into the lucrative launch services market.

With its rockets, Allen's Stratolaunch Systems Corp is trying to cash in on higher demand in the coming years for vessels that can put satellites into orbit. But his vehicles will have to compete domestically with other space entrepreneurs and industry stalwarts such as Elon Musk's SpaceX and United Launch Alliance - a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

.@FlyingHeritage's SkyFair is back tomorrow. See some of the most iconic warbirds and tanks roar to life in our biggest event of the year. https://t.co/LUMUroumhL pic.twitter.com/Wfo8BxqVLb

— Paul Allen (@PaulGAllen) July 21, 2018

Russia says will not deploy arms in space first: Ifax

Russia does not plan to put weapons in space first and considers this to be an important signal that Washington should not ignore, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency on Monday. The United States last week voiced suspicion over Russia's pursuit of new space weapons, including a mobile laser system to destroy satellites in space, and the launch of a new inspector satellite which was acting in an "abnormal" way.

Sweden calls for nuclear reactors to be shielded from hot weather

Sweden's nuclear energy regulator SSM has asked plant operators to produce plans in the coming months to shield their reactors from the harmful hot weather, its director told Reuters on Monday.

A number of Swedish reactors had to shut down or reduce output as the summer heatwave sent temperatures to record highs in July, with the seawater that is used to cool them becoming much warmer than normal, exceeding safety levels.

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