The Air Force plans to launch in Fiscal 2008 an unmanned Orbital Test Vehicle—building on work from NASA’s defunct X-37 technology demonstrator. Service officials announced the effort Nov. 17, saying USAF would proceed with “full-scale development and on-orbit testing of an unmanned long-duration, reusable space vehicle.” The Air Force is working with NASA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and prime contractor Boeing on the OTV program. Running the effort is the Washington, D.C.-based Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.
If the Air Force is in line for a big budget bump from President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, the head of Air Combat Command said he would make aircraft spare parts his top spending priority—but cautioned that more money to buy parts won’t equal a…
