A 7,000-item to-do list could have become another morale drain for the nuclear force, but a maintenance team at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., did not let it. The 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., tackled the overdue periodic maintenance actions in less than one year and became the only intercontinental ballistic missile team to claim a “zero overdue periodic inspections” status, according to a release. The feat has not been accomplished since 2008. The release noted the periodic maintenance actions are only created for needed action on non system-crippling parts of launch facilities, missile alert facilities, and launch control centers—along the lines of replacing a missing bolt or draining water from a pit below a missile. The airmen slowly fell behind on their upkeep list due to limited manpower. But checking off all 7,000 tasks instilled confidence in the team, said MSgt. Jesse Martinez, 341st MMXS facilities flight superintendent, according to the release. “They’re ready and geared up to where they’re going to be accomplishing a lot more,” Martinez said. “This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Celebrating 100 Years of Liquid-Fueled Rockets
March 11, 2026
March 16, 2026, marks 100 years since Dr. Robert H. Goddard launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket. Over the past century, new and ever more capable liquid-fueled rockets have literally propelled humanity into space. Why liquid-fueled rockets?