August 30, 1983

August 30, 1983

Aug. 30, 1983

Two milestones are recorded on the STS-8 space shuttle mission: The oldest astronaut, William E. Thornton, 54, and the first black American astronaut, USAF Lt. Col. Guion S. Bluford Jr., are sent aloft on the space shuttle Challenger with three others.

Allvin Departs as Air Force Chief: ‘We Can’t Always Pick When We’re Asked to Leave’

Oct. 29, 2025

Gen. David W. Allvin completed two years as Chief of Staff, half the statutory tour length, but long enough, he says, to have made a mark on the Air Force.

Northrop Teams With Startup, Hoping to Use AI to Design Spacecraft

Oct. 29, 2025

Northrop Grumman is teaming up with AI company Luminary Cloud to use the startup firm’s physics-based AI platform to significantly reduce the time it takes to design and develop space systems.

Air Force Crew Forced Back to Base by Excessive Turbulence in Hurricane Melissa

Oct. 28, 2025

As Hurricane Melissa hammers the Caribbean, the U.S. Air Force’s “Hurricane Hunters” are busy flying into the massive Category 4 storm to collect atmospheric data—with one experiencing greater than expected turbulence Oct. 28.

US Airstrikes Destroy 4 Alleged Drug Boats, Kill 14

Oct. 28, 2025

The U.S. military conducted airstrikes against four boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Oct. 27, killing 14 people that the Trump administration alleges were engaged in drug smuggling, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on social media. It is the first time the U.S. has conducted multiple strikes in…

Pentagon Tech Nominees Say They’ll Stress Speed to Service for New Capabilities

Oct. 28, 2025

Defense technology nominees told the Senate Armed Services Committee they will strive to sharply accelerate the transition of new technologies into fielded capabilities. They pledged to cut red tape and ensure that the innovation infrastructure can support the needed speed of adopting new tech.

Pentagon Nominee on Consolidating Space Force and NRO: ‘Open to All Options’

Oct. 28, 2025

Marc Berkowitz, the Trump administration’s nominee to serve as assistant secretary of defense for space policy, told lawmakers he would consider “all options” for improving the efficiency of the national security space enterprise, including combining some functions of the Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office.

Shutdown Relief: Where Airmen and Guardians Can Turn for Help

Oct. 28, 2025

With no end to the government shutdown in sight, Airmen, Guardians, and defense civilians face increasing uncertainty about whether or not they will be paid—and how to make ends meet if they are not.

Airman Charged in M18 Shooting Death Found Dead

Oct. 27, 2025

The Airman arrested in connection with the M18 pistol discharge that killed a fellow member of Air Force security forces on July 20 in Wyoming was found dead earlier this month, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed.

Jets Converge on Tyndall for Major Exercise, Despite Shutdown

Oct. 27, 2025

Dozens of fighter jets gathered at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida last week to kick off one of the service’s biggest air combat exercises despite the government shutdown. More than 50 aircraft and 500 personnel are participating in Checkered Flag 26-1.

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