The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History’s Heritage Park, in Albuquerque, N.M., opened a new exhibit featuring a reconstructed Peacekeeper ICBM in November. Volunteers from Kirtland AFB, N.M., have been working in their personal time over the past year to build the display missile. The team of seven volunteers, who work in the Space and Missile Systems’ Experimental Launch and Test Division, were requested by the museum for their technical expertise with the Peacekeeper. Because their day work at Kirtland involves preparing decommissioned ICBM motors for launch services offered to Defense Department contractors, the team was perfectly suited to help with the exhibit. They completely rebuilt the Peacekeeper’s first and second stage rocket motors, poured concrete pads for the display, and directed the placement of various parts of the missile. The exhibit includes three stages of the rocket, plus the post boost propulsion system, deployment module, and titanium shroud.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
