Latest news with #Boeing-produced
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Will Forbes get the Air Force's new refueling tanker? Here's what we know
A massive new tanker is revitalizing the Air Force's refueling fleet, and a site survey team pondering whether to choose Topeka to house some of those planes is expected to visit Forbes Field Air National Guard Base in early April. The visit is a "crucial step" in identifying the Air Force's next home for newly built KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers, the Forbes-based 190th Air Refueling Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard said in a news release. The Air Force revealed in October that Forbes was among seven bases being considered to house eight of the tankers beginning in 2031, with bases in New Hampshire, New Jersey and Michigan having already been chosen for that distinction. A final decision is expected in the fall of 2025, the news release said. The Air Force, through its KC-X tanker competition, chose the Boeing-produced Pegasus in 2011 to replace its KC-135 Stratotankers, which have been in service in 1957. In Greek mythology, Pegasus is a winged horse, usually depicted as a white stallion. The Pegasus will bring increased cargo capacity and improved refueling, protection and flight distance capabilities, according to the Air Force. Boeing is modeling the aircraft on its 767 jet airliners, the Air Force said, adding that it received its first delivery in 2019 and plans to have 179 Pegasus aircraft by 2027 on a contract valued at roughly $35 billion. "The KC-46 brings more capability than just fuel to aerial warfare," said Col. Kent Crane, commander of the 190th. "This is critical for our airmen and aircrew who would be fighting in potential future conflicts." Unlike many existing tankers, the Pegasus can also receive fuel, the Boeing website says. "The KC-46A delivers more fuel at all ranges and from shorter runways than the KC-135 aircraft it's replacing — while utilizing less ramp space than competing tankers — ensuring mission reach from forward and austere airfields," it says. Forbes's location in the geographic center of the nation is among reasons the 190th says it should be chosen to house the Pegasus. Other reasons it cites include the 190th's existing infrastructure, growth potential, cost-effective operations and strong partnerships. "It's always exciting getting to showcase the 190th, especially the members of the 190th because they're so adaptable, they're innovative, and they excel at everything they do," said Col. Marjorie Durkes, the 190th's deputy commander. "It's so exciting to showcase not only the 190th but the Topeka community and how we've all come together around this." Forbes' selection would significantly benefit the 190th and the Topeka community, according to the 190th's news release. "The increased mission scope would strengthen existing relationships, create new opportunities for collaboration, and enhance the economic and strategic impact of the 190th ARW within the region," it said. The site survey team visiting Topeka in early April consists of members from the National Guard Bureau and active duty Air Force, according to the 190th's news release. It said Forbes is competing for the distinction of housing the Pegasus with six other locations. They are as follows: Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base in Birmingham, Alabama. Bangor Air National Guard Base in Maine. Key Field Air National Guard Base in Meridian, Mississippi. McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Knoxville, Tennessee. Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Ohio. Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@ or 785-213-5934. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Team to decide if Forbes will be home to new USAF refueling tanker
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA says stranded US astronauts to leave ISS on Monday
US space agency NASA has said that a SpaceX capsule due to bring home two US astronauts that have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June would set off on Monday. The capsule, which reached the space outpost in the early hours of Sunday, was due to begin hatch closure preparations to leave the ISS at 10:45 pm (0245 GMT Tuesday) and splashdown off the coast of Florida about 20 hours later, NASA said on Sunday. The space agency had initially said the capsule would not depart the ISS before Wednesday. "The updated return target continues to allow the space station crew members time to complete handover duties while providing operational flexibility ahead of less favorable weather conditions expected for later in the week," NASA said in a statement. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft brought NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov to the ISS. In its return journey it is set to bring US astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, back to Earth. Williams and Wilmore arrived at the ISS at the beginning of June on the first manned test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They were only meant to stay in space for a week, but numerous technical problems with the craft left them stranded. The Boeing-produced Starliner is a partially reusable spacecraft that consists of a capsule around 3 metres high for the crew and a service module. Unlike the Crew Dragon vehicle built by Elon Musk's SpaceX company, the Starliner does not land on water but on dry land.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX capsule due to bring home stranded US astronauts reaches ISS
A SpaceX capsule due to bring home two US astronauts that have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) since June reached the space outpost in the early hours of Sunday, a stream of the docking operation showed. On Friday evening, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. The spacecraft docked with the ISS at 00:04 am (0404 GMT), NASA and SpaceX said. It is set to bring US astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, back to Earth. NASA said the capsule would depart the ISS on March 19 at the earliest. Williams and Wilmore arrived at the ISS at the beginning of June on the first manned test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They were only meant to stay in space for a week, but numerous technical problems with the craft left them stranded. The Boeing-produced Starliner is a partially reusable spacecraft that consists of a capsule around 3 metres high for the crew and a service module. Unlike the Crew Dragon vehicle built by Elon Musk's SpaceX company, the Starliner does not land on water but on dry land.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Return mission for stranded astronauts successfully launches
The return mission for two astronauts stuck in space has successfully launched, US space agency NASA said on Friday. US astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams have now been on the International Space Station (ISS) since June, although they were only supposed be on board for one week. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, NASA said. The spacecraft is expected to dock at the ISS late on Saturday. NASA said NASA astronauts Nick Hague, Williams and Wilmore, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, were now set to depart the ISS no earlier than March 19. Williams and Wilmore arrived at the ISS at the beginning of June on the first manned test flight of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. They were only meant to stay on the ISS for a week, but numerous technical problems with the craft left them stranded there. The Boeing-produced Starliner is a partially reusable spacecraft that consists of a capsule around 3 metres high for the crew and a service module. Unlike the Crew Dragon vehicle built by Elon Musk's SpaceX company, the Starliner does not land on water but on dry land.
