SASC Air Force Posture Hearing, June 2017

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) held its annual Air Force posture hearing on June 6, 2017.  Witnesses were Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein.  Most of the hearing focused on aircraft and personnel, but there was some discussion of Air Force space programs.   Wilson said the service is requesting a 20 percent increase in space program funding for FY2018, which Sen. Ted Cruz said would raise the total to $7.7 billion.  She also revealed that the next launch of one of the Air Force’s two reusable X-37B Orbital Test Vehicles (OTVs) will be conducted by SpaceX in August, the first time that information appears to have been made public. SpacePolicyOnline.com published a summary of the hearing on June 6, 2017.