The Air Force and its industry partners successfully launched NASA’s Juno spacecraft into space aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. “As always, the 45th Space Wing is pleased to have supported NASA on another successful and safe launch,” said Brig. Gen. Ed Wilson, 45th SW commander. The launch occurred at 12:25 p.m. East Coast time on Aug. 5. Lockheed Martin built Juno, which will investigate Jupiter’s formation, evolution, and structure from an elliptical orbit. It will take about five years for Juno to reach the distant planet, according to NASA. (Includes Cape Canaveral release and NASA release)
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.