T
he son of the F-15 pilot who made the first successful anti-satellite shot for the 1985 Celestial Eagle Flight got to fly his father’s F-15, which now belongs to the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing. SrA. Erik Hofmeyer reports that Air Guardsman SSgt. Aaron Harley, with the 125th FW’s Det. 1 at Homestead ARB, Fla., was the inspiration for this historic remembrance flight. The 1985 Eagle pilot is now-retired Maj. Gen. Doug Pearson. His son is active duty F-15 pilot, Capt. Todd Pearson, stationed at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
In the Space Force’s push to increase its consumption of commercial satellite capabilities, satellite communications stands out as the template. The question now is how broadly the Space Force will look to leverage additional SATCOM providers.