Up, up and away Pegasus

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A L-1011 “Stargazer” carrier aircraft and its lead plane turn toward Monterey Bay after take-off at the base flightline here Thursday, June 27, 2013. The launch of an Orbital Sciences Corporation Pegasus XL rocket launched from the “Stargazer” carrier aircraft off the coast of Monterey Bay. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lael Huss)

Up, up and away Pegasus

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A L-1011 “Stargazer” carrier aircraft carrying an Orbital Sciences Corporation Pegasus XL rocket flies off the base flightline here Thursday, June 27, 2013. The launch of a Pegasus XL rocket launched from the “Stargazer” carrier aircraft off the coast of Monterey Bay. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lael Huss)

There is a NuStar in the sky

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- An Orbital Sciences Corporation owned L-1011 "Stargazer” takes-off with a Pegasus rocket carrying the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array satellite here Tuesday, June 5, 2012. The NuSTAR satellite will image high-energy X-rays, giving scientists a new perspective on black holes, supernovae and galactic nuclei. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

There is a NuStar in the sky

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- An Orbital Sciences Corporation owned L-1011 "Stargazer” takes-off with a Pegasus rocket carrying the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array satellite here Tuesday, June 5, 2012. The NuSTAR satellite will image high-energy X-rays, giving scientists a new perspective on black holes, supernovae and galactic nuclei. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

There is a NuStar in the sky

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- An Orbital Sciences Corporation owned L-1011 "Stargazer? takes-off with a Pegasus rocket carrying the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array satellite here Tuesday, June 5, 2012. The NuSTAR satellite will image high-energy X-rays, giving scientists a new perspective on black holes, supernovae and galactic nuclei. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Orbital Science's L-1011 arrives at Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Orbital Science's L-1011 aircraft arrives on the flight line here Tuesday, March 6, 2012. The aircraft will carry a Pegasus rocket that will launch NASA's NuStar satellite into orbit. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Diablo Canyon sends boric acid to Japan from Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A C-17 cargo aircraft from McCord Air Force Base, Wash., sits on the flightline as a “K” loader prepares to load 34,000 pounds of boric acid from the Diablo Canyon Power Plant for transport to Japan on Thursday March 17, 2011. The boric acid is being sent to aid in the cooling of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Complex. Boric acid is used in nuclear power plants to control the fission rate of uranium. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Jerry E. Clemens, Jr.)

Vandenberg launches ground-based interceptor

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team Vandenberg launched a ground-based interceptor from Launch Facility 23 on North Base here at 12:03 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010. The launch was Vandenberg's last for 2010; the next launch is a Delta IV Heavy, scheduled for January 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Lael Huss)

C-17 training operations

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A C-17 Globemaster III, stationed at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., loops around for another touch-and-go maneuver for training here Tuesday, March 9, 2010. While there are no active flying squadrons, Vandenberg's runway is often used for training not only for aircraft, but for emergency response as well. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

Vandenberg aids in emergency landing

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Simulating operations during an aircraft emergency, Staff Sgt. Lilanae Martin, 30th OSS NCO in charge of airfield operations, communicates to emergency responders here Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. A 1966 Cessna Skyway airplane had to make an emergency landing on the flightline here Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, due to the damaged engine block. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrew Satran)

Vandenberg aids in emergency landing

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --Tech. Sgt. Donald Baily, 30th Operations Support Squadron airfield manager, and Staff Sgt. Lilanae Martin, 30th OSS NCO in charge of airfield operations, view the damaged engine block on a 1966 Cessna Skyway airplane here Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. The civilian airplane had to make an emergency landing on the flightline due to the damaged engine block here Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrew Satran)

Vandenberg aids in emergency landing

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --Tech. Sgt. Donald Baily, 30th Operations Support Squadron airfield manager,holds damaged pieces of an engine block on a 1966 Cessna Skyway airplane here Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. The civilian airplane had to make an emergency landing on the flightline here due to the damaged engine here Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrew Satran)

CAP flies over Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Civil Air Patrol GA8 Airvan takes off from the flightline here Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. The Civil Air Patrol showcased the benefits they can provide to the Vandenberg mission, as well as conducted warm-up training for mission pilots. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Bryan Boyette)

CAP flies over Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Col. Richard Wright, the 30th Mission Support Group commander, and Col. L.C. Coffey III, the 30th Launch Group commander, discuss details about their flight with retired Lt. Col. Steve Clark, a deputy commander with with the Vandenberg Composite Squadron 101 here Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. The Civil Air Patrol showcased the benefits they can provide to the Vandenberg mission, as well as conducted warm-up training for mission pilots. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Bryan Boyette)

Nellis Air Force Base 60th Anniversary Air Show

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Visitors gather around the MQ-9 "Reaper" during the 60th Anniversary Air Show here on Nov. 10. The "Reaper" is a unmanned aerial vehicle capable of hunting and killing emerging battlefield targets, as well as providing real-time surveillance and reconnaissance data to battlefield commanders and intelligence specialists. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Plew)

Nellis Air Force Base 60th Anniversary Air Show

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- A scale model of an F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike fighter sits on display during the 60th Anniversary Air Show here Nov. 10. The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine, stealth-capable military strike fighter, a multi-role aircraft that can perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air-to-air combat. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Plew)

Nellis Air Force Base 60th Anniversary Air Show

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Visitors stop to look at the F-22 Raptor during the 60th Anniversary Air Show here on Nov. 10. The Raptor is an air superiority fighter that uses stealth technology, but is also equipped for ground attack, electronic warfare and signals intelligence roles as well. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Plew)

Nellis Air Force Base 60th Anniversary Air Show

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- A B-17 Flying Fortress lands after a World War II tribute during the 60th Anniversary Air Show here on Nov. 10. The B-17 was a heavy bomber aircraft developed for the U.S. Army Air Corps, and was primarily employed in the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign of World War II against German industrial and civilian targets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Plew)

Helicopter Squadron's diverse training aids in mission success

Staff Sgt. Adam Lasher, a former flight engineer for the 76th Helicopter Squadron, does a preflight check to ensure the helicopter is air worthy.

Helicopter Squadron's diverse training aids in mission success

Huey soars above the cloudy skies of Vandenberg on a training mission.

Helicopter Squadron's diverse training aids in mission success

A crew from the 76th Helicopter Flight train using practices rescue techniques off the central coast of California. The 76th HF provides fire suppression post-launch disaster control and local wildland vegetation management.

Vandenberg Airmen put eyes in the sky

Master Sgt. Timothy Griggs (left) and Senior Airman Mirandy Mazzuca, both unmanned aerial vehicle pilots with the 30th Security Forces Squadron, pilot and conduct light checks on a Raven, one of Vandenberg’s UAVs. The Raven provides security, reconnaisance, surveillance capabilities and more. (Courtesy photo)