LETTERS

摘要

As commander of the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center and the program executive officer for space, I feel compelled to respond to your recent editorial titled "A Question of Sustainability" [March 3, page 18]. The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program has achieved an unprecedented record of launching national security missions to space: 12 consecutive successes for 12 missions. In 2006, RAND produced the results of a comprehensive study, the conclusion which can be summarized with: "The EELV development programs are true successes and are critical to national security. The Air Force must rigorously protect this capability with resources adequate to sustain these programs."