Air Force Institute of Technology officials noted recently that AFIT has bred a good many of the Air Force personnel who have participated in space activities. The school’s early alumni include Mercury astronauts Gordon Cooper and Gus Grissom. Today’s commander of the space shuttle Discovery STS-121 mission, Col. Steve Lindsey, is a 1990 AFIT graduate. Read more of the AFIT space connection here.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…