First transfer of an operational space system to a civilian agency occurred when USAF handed over primary control of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program on-orbit assets to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The U.S., South Korea, and Japan flew an unusual trilateral flight with two U.S. B-52H Stratofortress bombers escorted by two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s, and two ROK Air Force KF-16 fighters—both countries’ respective variants of the F-16—July 11. That same weekend, the top military officers of the three nations…