The Air Force and its industry partners successfully launched NASA’s Juno spacecraft into space aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. “As always, the 45th Space Wing is pleased to have supported NASA on another successful and safe launch,” said Brig. Gen. Ed Wilson, 45th SW commander. The launch occurred at 12:25 p.m. East Coast time on Aug. 5. Lockheed Martin built Juno, which will investigate Jupiter’s formation, evolution, and structure from an elliptical orbit. It will take about five years for Juno to reach the distant planet, according to NASA. (Includes Cape Canaveral release and NASA release)
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
