The 30th Space Wing successfully launched an Atlas V rocket carrying the DigitalGlobe Worldview-4 satellite from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., at 10:30 a.m. PST on Friday, according to a press release. The launch was the first from Vandenberg since wildfires delayed an Atlas V launch in September. Atlas V is a United Launch Alliance rocket, and Worldview-4 is a Lockheed Martin satellite that “captures map-accurate images with a new, high-resolution camera,” according to the company. The data it provides will serve both military and commercial users. The camera is “so advanced it can discern the make of a car from its orbit in space,” according to the Air Force.
The Air Force must better explain Agile Combat Employment concepts, align training standards, and address staff shortages to be ready to implement the strategy, according to a new report by the federally funded RAND Corporation.