A fuel leak fire ended the space launch of the Air Force Academy’s FalconSat-2 satellite. Launch of the SpaceX aerospace firm’s Falcon1 rocket ended seconds into its flight from Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific last Friday. The launch—first for SpaceX founder Elon Musk—originally was slated for November, then December, then earlier this year. Musk told the BBC that he hoped to have another rocket ready to launch in less than six months.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.