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.
When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the Army War College last week, he mentioned changes to the way the military buys software alongside Golden Dome and the F-47 as key to his goal of “rebuilding the military.” And Lt. Gen. Luke C.G. Cropsey, who heads the Air Force’s most consequential…