The Defense Department announced April 30 that SrA. Jonathan A.V. Yelner, 24, of Lafayette, Calif., died April 29 near Bagram AB, Afghanistan, from wounds he received when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Yelner had deployed to Afghanistan from the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
The Space Force plans to expand the scope of its data transport constellation in the next few years, kick-starting a competition to bring on new commercial capabilities and procuring nine launches in fiscal 2027 to support the hybrid satellite communications network.