Cadets at the Air Force Academy are formulating their initial concepts for FalconSAT-6, the next in the series of experimental small-sized satellites that are designed, built, and operated by cadets. The academy held a symposium recently for representatives across the space community to solicit ideas on potential payloads, technologies, and mission concepts for FalconSAT-6, which, if ultimately approved and funded at levels of between $5 million and $10 million, may have a launch opportunity in 2011 or 2012. Work in the FalconSAT-6 will commence in the fall. Meanwhile, efforts continue at the academy to complete FalconSAT-5 for a December launch from Kodiak Island, Alaska, aboard a Minotaur rocket. That satellite will carry experiments to monitor space weather phenomena. FalconSAT-3, launched in March 2007, is still operating and collecting data on space weather and satellite operations. Plans for FalconSAT-4 were scrubbed. (Air Force Academy report by John Van Winkle)
When Donald Trump begins his second term as president in January, national security law experts anticipate he may return to his old habit of issuing orders to the military via social media, a practice which could cause confusion in the ranks.