Airmen with the 45th Space Wing at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., on Tuesday successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket into space that was carrying a classified US government communications satellite known as “PAN.” “This launch helps to ensure that vital communications will continue to bolster our nation’s capabilities and showcases why the 45th Space Wing is the world’s premiere gateway to space,” said Brig. Gen. Edward Bolton Jr., 45th SW boss. This mission was the 16th Atlas V launch from Cape Canaveral. It was also the 13th launch overall this year from the Cape. (Includes Patrick release) (For more, read NASA Spaceflight.com’s Sept. 8 report.)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.