Air Mobility Command accident investigators have concluded that the death of SrA. James D. Harris last winter was a failure on the airman’s part to follow safety standards. In a statement released April 28, AMC officials said that, on Dec. 17, 2005, Harris chose to use an “unserviceable” B-2 bomber maintenance stand to perform maintenance on a KC-10 tanker. He fell from the stand at a height of 13 feet and died from his injuries on Dec. 21.
Reports of production troubles on the SpaceX rocket that could contend for military cargo deliveries happened to coincide with a different company’s concept receiving an early nod—one that might not require a rocket at all.