A US Air Force Academy cadet-built satellite—the FalconSAT-2—slated on Nov. 25 to blast off into orbit from the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site in the Marshall Islands did not launch because of problems with the commercial booster. Officials believe it may go in December. Once the satellite is deployed, cadets will take over control via the academy’s ground control station and gather scientific data. The satellite is a product of the academy’s Space Systems Research Center, which runs a multi-disciplinary astronautical engineering course where cadets design and construct a small satellite for DOD research. FalconSAT-2’s mission is to measure lower inonsphere space plasma phenomena—an event that can disrupt space communications such as the Global Positioning System.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.
