Hot-Fire of LOX-Methane Engine:
NASA officials say the hot-fire test of an engine fueled by liquid oxygen and liquid methane ran successfully for 103 seconds. They called the test a “major milestone” in the search for next-generation spaceflight technologies. NASA has been working on the endeavor with Air Force Research Lab at Kirtland AFB, N.M., and KT Engineering at Huntsville, Ala. There are three additional hot fire tests planned using the current engine configuration.
Three B-1B Lancers from the 7th Bomb Wing flew over the Indo-Pacific alongside F-16s from the Japanese Air Self Defense Force recently, as part of a joint large force exercise. The mission began and ended in the continental U.S., as the bombers flew 31 hours and landed Jan. 11.