NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has provided the first direct evidence of small meteoroids breaking into streams of rubble and crashing into Saturn’s rings. These observations make Saturn’s rings the only location besides Earth, the moon, and Jupiter where scientists and amateur astronomers have been able to observe impacts as they occur. Studying the impact rate of…

Air Force photograph by Lawrence Crespo Crew chiefs from the 57th Wing Lightning Aircraft Maintenance Unit marshal an F-35 Lighting II, March 6, 2013, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The first two aircraft will be assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron. Affordability remains the priority for the F-35 Lightning II joint strike…

Next-generation GCS successfully integrates flagship, advanced Predator platforms General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. announced April 24 that it has successfully demonstrated its Advanced Cockpit Ground Control Stationís capability to fly Predator C Avenger. The flight occurred Nov. 15, 2012, at the companyís Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif. GAASI is a leading manufacturer…

Navy photograph The E-6B Mercury’s capability to support U.S. leaders continues to expand with the latest internet protocol expansion. The upgrades to the aircraft’s secure local area computer network now allow the onboard battle staff members to operate virtually. An internet bandwidth upgrade being rolled out on the E-6B Mercury aircraft, the nationís airborne strategic…

Air Force photograph by Samuel King Jr. Doolittle Raiders, Col. Dick Cole, Lt. Col. Ed Saylor and Staff Sgt. David Thatcher, salute during the National Anthem at the 33rd Fighter Wing hangar dedication in honor of Saylor April 17, 2013, at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. After unveiling the plaque with his name on it,…

NASA photograph by Bill Ingalls NASA photograph by Bill Ingalls The Antares rocket clears the launch pad on its way to orbit. NASA commercial space partner Orbital Sciences Corporation April 21 launched its Antares rocket at 5 p.m. ,EDT, from the new Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Pad-0A at the agency’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The…

Photograph by Merv Brokke Auburn University mascot Aubie learns how to hand-launch an RQ-11A Raven with engineer Daniel Hiatt, holding a Puma, during a 2012 visit to the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. College students conducting research into remotely piloted unmanned aerial systems are testing their…

Eric Fanning will be the next Air Force under secretary, according to a Senate confirmation vote April 18.

Courtesy photograph The advanced 360-degree rotating X-band MFCR completed initial performance tests in a near-field facility at SELEX Sistemi Integrati SpA in Rome in 2012. A Medium Extended Air Defense System Low Frequency Sensor has proven its ability to cue the Multifunction Fire Control Radar in a test near Syracuse, N.Y. During the demonstration, the…

Air Force photograph by TSgt. Samuel King Jr. Aircrew from the 919th Special Operations Wing admire their aircraft, the MC-130E Combat Talon I, in flight one last time April 15, 2013, during its final flight before retirement. The last five Talons in the Air Force belong to the 919th SOW and are scheduled to be…