Fifty-four percent of Americans polled as part of a newly released study favored canceling the F-35 strike fighter and instead upgrading legacy fighters in order to help reduce the federal budget deficit. Fifty-nine percent of self-identified Democrats, 53 percent of independents, and 48 percent of Republicans took this stance, according to the Program for Public Consultation study, issued on May 10. PPC, together with the Stimson Center and the Center for Public Integrity, polled a random sample of 665 American adults to gauge how they felt about cutting defense spending to mitigate the federal deficit. Fifty-two percent of the respondents also favored cancelling development of a long-range bomber for the Air Force. While Republicans were closely divided, 56 percent of Democrats favored cancellation as did 51 percent of independents, according to the study. (PPC release) (PPC study full document; caution, large file.)
The successful second flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket on Nov. 13 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., also included a first for the company—the launcher’s booster stuck its landing on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean.
