The Air Force has mothballed the last of its 50 Peacekeeper ICBMs, but plans are under way by a private research group to carry satellites into space on the missiles designed to rain nuclear warheads. According to the Missoula (Mont.) Independent, the Inland Northwest Space Alliance (INSA)—a private group organized by the University of Montana in 2003—is collaborating with the Air Force to use the decommissioned missiles to launch university-built satellites. INSA President George Bailey says there’s “definite interest” in the project on Capitol Hill and that the military supports the goal of the project—bringing more students into the fold of aerospace engineering.
The Air Force’s Kessel Run software factory is launching an effort to create the “next generation” of the service's Air Operations Centers, used to command, control, and coordinate aircraft movements around the globe.
