Air Force maintenance personnel have begun refurbishing “Uniform-1,” the instructional, non-operational ICBM launch facility and Minuteman silo at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. As part of this, a special maintenance team from Hill AFB, Utah, carefully removed the 47,000-pound missile support system that normally cradles the ICBM within the silo. Hoisted from the silo in a three-hour operation utilizing a mobile crane on Dec. 7, these maintainers are sending the MSS to Vandenberg, AFB, Calif., for repairs, refinishing, and new paint. During its absence, members of Warren’s 90th Maintenance Group will undertake corrosion-control activities as well as routine maintenance of the training silo. Uniform-1 provides maintenance and operational training for the missileers of Warren’s 90th Missile Wing. This refurbishment marks the first time that airmen have removed the MSS since its construction. (Warren report by SSgt. Chad Thompson)
The Space Force awarded three contracts for rocket launches worth up to a combined $13.68 billion on April 4—and the usual players SpaceX and United Launch Alliance have got some competition in the form of newcomer Blue Origin.