The Air Force and its industry partners launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload into space from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. “This Atlas V launch marked the last of the year and I am very proud of the teamwork that led to the success of not only today’s launch, but those that preceded,” said Col. Keith Balts, 30th Space Wing commander, of the Dec. 12 mission in Vandy’s release. The Atlas configuration used in the mission, designated NROL-35, had four solid rocket boosters, along with the Atlas V’s main engine. This made it “the most powerful Atlas ever launched from California, with more than two million pounds of liftoff thrust,” said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, in a release. The mission also marked the inaugural flight of the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-1 engine. “ULA is extremely pleased with this first flight of the new RL10C-1 engine,” said Sponnick. NROL-35 was the third and final NRO launch in 2014, according to NRO’s release.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.