Former Air Force missileers gathered at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., earlier this week to commemorate the first launch of a Minuteman ICBM—45 years ago. The first Minuteman, launched from Complex 31, lifted off from the Cape on Feb. 1, 1961.
The Space Force has added two startup firms to its National Security Space Launch program, increasing the competitive field for “commercial-like” missions to seven providers.