The 30th mission in the US space shuttle program is carried out, as the crew of five service astronauts launches a classified payload from the orbiter Columbia. It is the longest military shuttle flight to date.
Active-duty Airmen and Guardians haven’t missed any paychecks yet as a result of the ongoing government shutdown. But with tens of thousands of military spouses working as civilians for the federal government, many families still face financial strain and stress.
