DOD is standing up its new Operationally Responsive Space joint office today at Kirtland AFB, N.M. New Mexico lawmakers announced earlier this month that Kirtland would be the site of the new office. Its first director will be Air Force Col. Kevin McLaughlin, who also serves as the commander for the Space Development and Test Wing at Kirtland.
The Space Development Agency is set to launch 21 Tranche 1 data transport satellites on Oct. 5—its fourth Tranche 1 mission since last fall and the first to carry Northrop Grumman-built satellites.