The 45th Space Wing at Patrick AFB, Fla., recently supported the successful launch of a Space Explorations Technologies communications satellite at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, announced base officials. The Thaicom 6 satellite—SpaceX’s second commercial launch—took off in a Falcon 9 launch vehicle on Jan 6, according to a base release. “I am immensely proud of the work of the wing and our mission partners,” said Col. Robert Pavelko, 45th SW vice commander. Airmen provided launch support, weather forecasts, launch and range operations, security, and other support to SpaceX, states the Jan. 7 release. The 45th SW also served as the launch decision authority. Thaicom 6 “will provide C-band and Ku-band communications services across Southeast Asia and Africa,” states the release, and “it will fly in a geostationary orbit approximately 22,000 miles above the Earth’s equator.”
The program executive officers for some of the Air Force’s largest acquisition management organizations are struggling to deal with an exodus of senior talent and experienced civilian staff, three of them told an industry conference.
