The Air Force turns out the lights out at Satellite Operations Center-52 at Onizuka Air Force Station, Calif. SOC-52—also called the “blue cube”—had operated for 36 years, supporting both USAF and civil space operations. Its functions transferred to Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., in 2004.
The U.S., South Korea, and Japan flew an unusual trilateral flight with two U.S. B-52H Stratofortress bombers escorted by two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s, and two ROK Air Force KF-16 fighters—both countries’ respective variants of the F-16—July 11. That same weekend, the top military officers of the three nations…