The Air Force Research Lab has set May 5 for the launch of Tactical Satellite-3 (TacSat-3) from NASA’s Wallops Island facility in Virginia. Launch of the less than 880-pound satellite on its year-long experimental mission had been delayed more than once as program officials worked through repairs to some of its components. TacSat-3 carries three experiments: Raytheon’s ARTEMIS hyperspectral imager, the Office of Naval Research’s satellite communications package, and AFRL’s space avionics experiment. (Kirtland AFB, N.M. report by Michael Kleiman)
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…