The majority of special-mission aircraft that the 1st Special Operations Wing temporarily relocated from Hurlburt Field, Fla., last week due to Tropical Storm Karen are now back home, according to wing spokeswoman A1C Michelle Vickers. The wing’s remaining assets are expected back by the end of the week, she told the Daily Report on Tuesday. On Oct. 3, the 1st SOW began moving some of its AC-130s, CV-22s, MC-130s, and U-28s to Cannon AFB, N.M., and Little Rock AFB, Ark., in advance of Karen’s arrival. Maintainers put the aircraft that remained at Hurlburt in protective hangars, said Vickers. Concern at the time was that Karen would make landfall on the Florida panhandle as a powerful, destructive storm. However, by Sunday, Karen had dissipated and no storm watches or warnings remained in effect.
The Space Development Agency is set to launch 21 Tranche 1 data transport satellites on Oct. 5—its fourth Tranche 1 mission since last fall and the first to carry Northrop Grumman-built satellites.