Sen. Kent Conrad (R-N.D.) says Air Force leaders have Minot AFB, N.D., “in their long-term plans,” reports The Minot Daily News. Conrad, who spoke at a press conference last week after touring the base, has been key in the Senate ICBM Coalition’s push to restrain the Air Force from removing 50 ICBMs from service unless USAF needs the missiles for test flights. He said in a statement that the coalition has “several military objectives that will only help to secure the future of Minot Air Force Base as a thriving partner in the Minot region’s economy.”
Officials at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., said the range is “fully mission capable” to support launches following a major May 28 mishap involving Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.