The Air Force has declared the latest—and last of its model—Global Positioning Satellite, launched into orbit Aug. 17, to be operational, as of Aug. 27. The Lockheed Martin-built satellite, GPS IIR-21(M), joins 30 other GPS sats currently in the operational constellation. This good news bears out the earlier claim by Space and Missile Center officials that a problem with the previous satellite in the series (GPS IIR-20) did not extend to #21. (SMC release)
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the site of U.S. Space Command’s future home Dec. 12 and endorsed the move to establish the headquarters in Alabama after years of political back and forth.
