Officials with the 2nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colo., last week completed an upgrade of the Global Positioning System ground control element. The Architecture Evolution Plan 5.6 software upload is part of the Air Force’s broader efforts to improve and maintain the current GPS ground system. Col. Harold Martin, acting command lead for positioning, navigation, and timing in Air Force Space Command’s air, space, and cyberspace operations directorate, said the Jan. 5 refresh was “a small software update” to incorporate changes to support the upcoming launch of the second GPS Block IIF satellite. He added, “This release does not contain fixes involving any changes to the navigation message, and therefore should be transparent to the end user.” This work built upon the previous upgrade in December. (Peterson release)
Air Force Conducts Test Launch of Minuteman III ICBM
May 21, 2025
The Air Force tested an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif,. at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time May. 21. The successful test saw the missile equipped with a single reentry vehicle travel more than 4,200 miles to strike a test site near Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall…