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Take a brand new aircraft right off the assembly line and then prepare it for its first mission. There is no maiden test flight or trip around the flagpole to evaluate its performance. It must launch without a hitch and run perfectly for up to 15 years without a glitch. And by the way, after it is launched then there is no possibility of bringing it in for any kind of maintenance. It has to be faultless because perfection is expected and relied on by millions. When it comes to the space mission, there is no second chance. Air Force Space Command officials must be perfect every time for each mission or there could be loss of life and millions of dollars. Making sure missions are flawlessly prepared are members of the 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. They pro- cess and launch U.S. government and commercial satellites from nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The mission starts well before a vehicle is launched. The Air Force works with the Department of Defense to determine what the warfighter needs to have an advantage in combat. It could be an advanced weather satellite to better track storms or condi- tions over an area. It could be a communications satellite giving American servicemembers more secure and instantaneous links. Or it could be an intelligence satellite that will let military leaders Airmen provide spAce support to benefit wArfighters, public story by mAster sgt. ben gonzAles ✪ photos by stAff sgt. bennie J. dAvis iii ✪ design by luke borlAnd Above the Clouds www.AirmAnonline.af.mil 28
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28-33 Shuttle Support