Vandenberg hosts Northstar exercise

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Wearing her mission oriented personal protection gear, Airman 1st Class Meagann Bartolome, a 30th Space Wing Judge Advocate paralegal, marks an improvised chemical warning sign during Northstar exercise conducted by the base here Friday, Sept. 24, 2010. The Northstar exercise is designed to simulate wartime deployment scenarios including live fire, mortar attacks and chemical warfare. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Lael Huss)

Vandenberg hosts Northstar exercise

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Airman 1st Class Erik Peterson, of the 30th Security Forces Squadron, looks through the sights of his weapon during a Northstar exercise here Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010. The Northstar exercise is designed to simulate wartime deployment scenarios including live fire, mortar attacks and chemical warfare. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Lael Huss)

Vandenberg welcomes 21st SOPS, new facility

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif.-- Lt. Gen. Larry D. James, the 14th Air Force commander, Col. Wayne Monteith, the 50th Space Wing commander, Lt. Col. Robert Pavelko, 21st Space Operations commander, and Lorna Onizuka, the widow of Col. Ellison Onizuka, an astronaut who perished aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster cuts a ribbon at the Ellison Onizuka Satellite Operations Facility dedication ceremony here Friday, July 30, 2010. Onizuka Air Force Station, previously located in Sunnyvale, officially closed July 28. The 21st Space Operations Squadron transferred here as part of an effort to consolidate satellite command and control operations while reducing excess infrastructure. Onizuka AFS was selected for closure by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission in 2005 (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Bryan Boyette)

Vandenberg welcomes 21st SOPS, new facility

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif.-- Lt. Gen. Larry D. James, the 14th Air Force commander, delivers a speech during the Ellison Onizuka Satellite Operations Facility dedication ceremony here Friday, July 30, 2010. Onizuka Air Force Station, previously located in Sunnyvale, officially closed July 28. The 21st Space Operations Squadron transferred here as part of an effort to consolidate satellite command and control operations while reducing excess infrastructure. Onizuka AFS was selected for closure by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission in 2005 (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Bryan Boyette)

Onizuka AFS closes, operations move to Vandenberg

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-- Mayor Melinda Hamilton delivers a speech during the Onizuka Air Force Station closure ceremony here July 28, 2010. Built in 1960, Onizuka AFS was originally known as the Air Force Satellite Test Center. It was selected for closure by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission in 2005, with the recommendation to move operations to Vandenberg Air Force Base, in order to consolidate satellite command and control operations while reducing excess infrastructure. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Bryan Boyette)

Onizuka AFS closes, operations move to Vandenberg

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-- Lt. Gen. John T. Sheridan, commander of the Space and Missile Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Col. Wayne Monteith, the 50th Space Wing commander, and Lt. Col. Robert Pavelko, 21st Space Operations Squadron commander, present a commemorative plaque to Mayor Melinda Hamilton here, Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Built in 1960, Onizuka AFS was originally known as the Air Force Satellite Test Center. It was selected for closure by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission in 2005, with the recommendation to move operations to Vandenberg Air Force Base, in order to consolidate satellite command and control operations while reducing excess infrastructure. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Bryan Boyette)

Onizuka AFS closes, operations move to Vandenberg

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-- Lt. Gen. John T. Sheridan, commander of the Space and Missile Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, presents Lorna Onizuka, widow of Col. Ellison Onizuka, astronaut aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, with a commemorative plaque during a closure ceremony for Onizuka Air Force Station here, Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Built in 1960, Onizuka AFS was originally known as the Air Force Satellite Test Center. It was selected for closure by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission in 2005, with the recommendation to move operations to Vandenberg Air Force Base, in order to consolidate satellite command and control operations while reducing excess infrastructure. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Bryan Boyette)

Onizuka AFS closes, operations move to Vandenberg

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-- Lorna Onizuka, widow of Col. Ellison Onizuka, an astronaut who died aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on Jan 28, 1986, delivers a speech during the Onizuka Air Force Station closing ceremony here, Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Built in 1960, Onizuka AFS was originally known as the Air Force Satellite Test Center. It was selected for closure by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission in 2005, with the recommendation to move operations to Vandenberg Air Force Base, in order to consolidate satellite command and control operations while reducing excess infrastructure. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Bryan Boyette)

Onizuka AFS closes, operations move to Vandenberg

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-- Lt. Gen. John T.Sheridan, commander of the Space Missile Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, delivers a speech at the closure ceremony of Onizuka Air Force Station here, Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Built in 1960, Onizuka AFS was originally known as the Air Force Satellite Test Center. It was selected for closure by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission in 2005, with the recommendation to move operations to Vandenberg Air Force Base, in order to consolidate satellite command and control operations while reducing excess infrastructure.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Bryan Boyette)

Onizuka AFS closes, operations move to Vandenberg

SUNNYVALE, Calif.-- Lt. Gen. John T.Sheridan, commander of the Space Missile Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, delivers a speech at the closure ceremony of Onizuka Air Force Station here, Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Built in 1960, Onizuka AFS was originally known as the Air Force Satellite Test Center. It was selected for closure by the Base Closure and Realignment Commission in 2005, with the recommendation to move operations to Vandenberg Air Force Base, in order to consolidate satellite command and control operations while reducing excess infrastructure.(U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Bryan Boyette)

Preparing for the X-37B

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Mr. Jim Zechman, of the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron structures shop, removes sealing from a runway light hole to prepare it for a replacement cover on the flightline here Saturday, May 8, 2010. Construction crews replaced the metal plates to ensure the X-37B has a safe landing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

Preparing for the X-37B

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Mr. John Anaya, of the 581st Missile Maintenance Squadron, inspects a metal plate he replaced to ensure it meets specifications for the X-37B landing on the flightline here Saturday, May 8, 2010. Construction crews replaced the metal plates to ensure the X-37B has a safe landing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)