Submitted via IRC for SoyCow1984
Vice President Mike Pence laid out plans for the US Space Force on Thursday, calling out an advanced type of satellite, GPS III, that is apparently resistant to tampering. According to Bloomberg, however, this specific orbital machinery has been delayed for the last four years, and the launch date has slipped yet again.
Bloomberg reports that the launch, originally scheduled for April of this year and delayed to October, will now happen in December. The Air Force confirmed to the site that the delay will accommodate "qualification testing" and a validation of SpaceX's Falcon 9 Block 5, the rocket that will boost the satellite into orbit.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/10/gps-satellite-space-force-delayed-again/
(Score: 4, Informative) by takyon on Tuesday August 14 2018, @08:01AM (3 children)
*Essential to the Air Force Space Command, you know, the thing that actually exists and would just get its name changed to Space Force:
https://www.afspc.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1012634/global-positioning-system/ [af.mil]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2, Insightful) by anubi on Tuesday August 14 2018, @09:52AM (2 children)
I wonder too how much delay is really trying to re-learn how to do it after many years of stagnation and laying off of the people who actually did this kind of thing forty years ago?
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union 30 or so years ago, we haven't had much of a need for cutting edge technology in this country... when we can buy it. We concentrate on more profitable things... like Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Tuesday August 14 2018, @11:33AM (1 child)
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=50th_Space_Wing [wikipedia.org]
Wîkipedia says they have 5600 personnel, including contractors.
They can't all be MBAs.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 3, Informative) by Freeman on Tuesday August 14 2018, @02:58PM
I think there's not enough cynicism in your post.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"