April 6, 2022

Cadets launch the future of space imagery

Falcon Neuro is hosted on the STP-H7/8 external payload in outer space. The payload was photographed by external cameras on the International Space Station. (Photo credit: NASA) By Public Affairs/Strategic Communications Photos by Joshua Armstrong/Trevor Cokley U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Cadet research projects at the United States Air Force Academy are frequently launched into low-Earth orbit, giving cadets ample opportunities to learn space by doing space. An ongoing project is Falcon Neuro, with cadets and faculty using neuromorphic cameras attached to the International Space Station to study lighting across the Earth and electrical discharges in space known as...

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April 11, 2022

Elon Musk urges cadet researchers at U.S. Air Force Academy to keep innovating, make rocket launches ‘boring’

Lt. Gen. Richard Clark, U.S. Air Force Academy superintendent, and Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, discuss space exploration and innovation during the Ira C. Eaker Lecture, Air Force Academy, Colo., April 7, 2022. Musk encouraged cadets to tackle research problems, break barriers and turn fiction into reality. (U.S. Air Force photo by Trevor Cokley) By Tech. Sgt. Zach Vaughn, U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- SpaceX CEO Elon Musk motivated cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy to keep the research industry on its toes by fighting complacency and working overtime to break boundaries. “We want...

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April 15, 2022

Commentary: Air Force Academy plays leading role in 2022’s great space rush

Col. Chris McClernon, associate dean of research and director of the research office at the U.S. Air Force Academy. (U.S. Air Force Academy photo) Commentary by Col. Chris McClernon U.S. Air Force Academy associate dean of research U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - One week after the annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, I reflect on the significance of the event. More than 10,000 people attended this year’s symposium representing small business, big business, academia and defense organizations from more than 40 countries. Colorado is the nation’s No. 1 state for private-sector space employment per capita and produces the U.S.’s second-largest...

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April 18, 2022

U.S. Air Force Academy celebrates research achievements at annual awards ceremony

Photo by Joshua Armstrong Story by Ray Bowden U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - A new award was unveiled at the annual Dean’s Research Awards Ceremony, and the Air Force’s top research officer encouraged cadets to never give up their fight for innovation April 8. The annual ceremony heralds the school’s research programs spanning the academic majors, including engineering, humanities, science and social sciences. Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle, commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio and the ceremony’s guest speaker, said the schools scientific endeavors advances the...

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May 2, 2022

Head of Air Force Academy’s astro department transfers to Space Force

Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre, dean of the faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy, congratulates Col. Luke Sauter, head of the school's head astronautics department, on his transfer to the Space Force, April 29, 2022. Sauter is now the first Guardian to be a permanent professor at the Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joshua Armstrong) Story by U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - A leading space expert at the U.S. Air Force Academy was sworn into the Space Force April 29, making him the first Space Force officer to be a permanent professor at the...

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May 20, 2022

Innovation at the Academy: It’s like riding a bike

(Photo/Col. Christopher McClernon) Commentary By Col Christopher McClernon U.S. Air Force Academy associate dean of research U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - A 1973 article by S. S. Wilson in Scientific American compared the efficiency of animals in motion and found birds and fish are much more efficient than walking or running humans. However, Wilson then tested a human on a bicycle and found that a cyclist was more efficient than all other animals studied. Steve Jobs, co-founder and former CEO of Apple Inc., often cited these findings to emphasize the value of tools, referring to the computer as a...

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May 24, 2022

‘Two services, one Academy’: AF Academy, Space Force teamwork make innovation history

(Defense Dept. photo by Cherie A. Thurlby) Commentary by Col. Jeff Greenwood Space Force Delta 13 Detachment 1 commander U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – This week, nearly 1,000 cadets will graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy and receive their commissions as newly minted second lieutenants in the Air Force and Space Force. It’s always an exciting time as friends and family members from around the world come together at our Academy to witness this culminating event, and it’s equally thrilling for the faculty and staff who get to celebrate with our newest batch of officers. For the third...

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May 25, 2022

The Breakdown: Stats on the Air Force Academy’s class of ‘22

(Class of 2022. Photo/Trevor Cokley) By Ray Bowden, U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Nearly 1,000 Air Force and Space Force officers graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in a ceremony at Falcon Stadium May 25. In all, 863 class of ’22 cadets were commissioned into the Air Force and 94 were commissioned into the Space Force as second lieutenants. Sixteen international cadets graduated with their U.S. classmates. The Breakdown This information is based on data from the Academy’s operations and analysis office released May 23. -- 1,434 men and women received appointments...

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July 20, 2022

Academy illuminates impact of interstellar mission

The general public are given an opportunity to learn about space exploration at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado July 18, 2022. The academy planetarium hosts a variety of educational experiences for the public as well as cadets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rachelle Stoll) Story by Staff Sgt Seth Stang U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Through cutting-edge facilities and educational experiences leaders at the Academy seek to engage and inspire future space explorers. Future Guardians, Airmen and faculty, along with members of the general public, have a variety of resources and opportunities to learn about...

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September 28, 2022

Tackling space missions for over six decades

International Space Station passes over the U.S. Air Force Academy Nov. 17, 2021. During its course over the Front Range, Col. Raja Chari, Class of 1999, served on board. (Photo illustration by Tony Muro, Class of 1999)­­­ U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The U.S. Air Force Academy has a long history of supporting the country’s space mission and developing officers ready to face the challenges of tomorrow. In fact, a member of the Academy’s very first graduating class went on to be an astronaut and we now commission graduates into the U.S. Space...

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