ON BOARD B-1B NO. 85079, ELLSWORTH AFB TO KUWAIT A 25-hr. "Global Power" mission flown by two USAF/Rockwell B-1B bombers demonstrated that the aircraft is rapidly becoming a potent long-range weapon system capable of delivering timely firepower during distant crises.

EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. The U.S. Air Force is starting an "evolved expendable launch vehicle" study that could result in a winner-take-all competition in 1997 to serve the country's mediumand heavy-lift launcher needs.

ELLSWORTH AFB, S.D. Studies by U.S. Air Force Armstrong Laboratory scientists are helping B-1B bomber crews manage the fatigue of back-to-back, long-range conventional missions. The studies stemmed from Air Combat Command concern that air crews might not be able to withstand the rigors of sustained, long-distance operations during the first 10 days of a conflict.

PARIS German engineers at the OHB System facility, Bremen, this week will begin detailed orbital checkout of the German Safir-R commercial communications payload launched Nov. 4. on a Russian booster. The project is one of three separate German/Russian space projects just reaching major milestones.