Weekend of January 24th and 25th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the weekend of January 24th & 25th — 

On this weekend, back in 1985 — With Loren Shriver, Class of ’67, as the pilot, and Gary Payton, Class of ’71, as payload specialist, the Space Shuttle Discovery launches.  The mission, STS-51C, marked the first time multiple Air Force Academy graduates flew on the same mission.  It was also the first all-military mission, and the first dedicated to deploying a Department of Defense payload. 

…Also on this weekend, in 2023 — The three-day Strategy and Warfare Center Symposium begins at the Academy.  The theme of the event, held in Polaris Hall, was “The Implications of Disruptive Technologies on Future Conflict: Autonomous Systems, AI, Hypersonics, and Quantum Computing.” 

…all content for the Academy History Update is provided by Retired Lt Col Steve Simon, USAFA Class of ’77. For more heritage information, visit the Association of Graduates website at USAFA.Org