In the astronautical world, the toys have caused a bit of a stir.

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The Astrium UK harpoon concept is being presented to the 63rd International Astronautical Congress in Naples on Wednesday.

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Many in the rocketry business are pigeonholed in such highly specialized fields as astronautical engineering, space policy, or space law.

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But the model version makes the simple beauty of the design, by Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, eminently clear.

WSJ: The Charge of the Satellite Brigade | Geek Chic

Scientists have been trying to find ways to control material properties for a long time, says Paul Lagace, an aeronautical and astronautical engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Yes, I'm a highly qualified nerd with a degree in astronautical engineering from a military academy, and am retired from a couple of decades of flying mostly front line fighter planes and parachuting with various nationalities when the opportunity presented itself.

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