Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 1:24 p.m. May 5. The rocket carried an experimental satellite for Missile Defense Agency's Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Heather R. Shaw)

Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 1:24 p.m. May 5. At approximately one hour after liftoff, with confirmation of the payload's delivery into low Earth orbit, the launch was pronounced a success. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Steady as she goes

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II Rocket fairing is raised into position March 11 at the bottom of the Main Support Tower, or MST, of a Delta II Rocket at Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket will carry the Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction, or STSS-ATRR, research and development satellite for the Missile Defense Agency. NASA will oversee the launch. The Delta II is scheduled for launch May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mark Mackley)

Steady as she goes

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II Rocket fairing is raised into position March 11 at the bottom of the Main Support Tower, or MST, of a Delta II Rocket at Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket will carry the Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction, or STSS-ATRR, research and development satellite for the Missile Defense Agency. NASA will oversee the launch. The Delta II is scheduled for launch May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mark Mackley)

Joint Space Operations Center

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Tech. Sgt. Michael Roberts, a sensor management analyst from the 614th Air and Space Operations Center, verifies the accuracy of a radar tracking station's observations of several man-made objects floating in space March 4 here. The purpose of Joint Space Operations Center is to provide a focal point for the operational employment of worldwide joint space forces, and enable the commander of Joint Functional Component Command for Space to integrate space power into global military operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Vanessa Valentine)

Joint Space Operations Center

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- 2nd Lt. Melissa Huffman, a collections analyst for 614th Air and Space Operations Center, reviews data received on the Delta II site March 4 here. The purpose of Joint Space Operations Center, or JSpOC, is to provide a focal point for the operational employment of worldwide joint space forces, and enable the commander of Joint Functional Component Command for Space to integrate space power into global military operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Salutes bid commander farewell

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Commander Joel Hicks, deputy director of the Joint Space Operations Center, walks the red carpet during a piping over the side ceremony during his retirement Feb. 17. During this symbolic departure from the ship the servicemembers flank the "gangway" and salute the retiring commander as he departs, accompanied by the Boatswain's whistle. This ceremonial farewell is often extended to family members as well, as the strength and support of a sailor's family is monumentally important to the completion of a successful Navy career. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Thomas)

Census listers to visit Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- U.S. Census Bureau listers can be identified by their bright orange vests, employee badges and their hand-held computers they carry with them door-to-door. Census listers are scheduled to visit Vandenberg AFB in early April. (Courtesy photo)

Taurus awaits launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- On Space Launch Complex 576-E here, NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory is scheduled to launch aboard the Taurus LX rocket Feb. 24. The spacecraft will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. (U.S. Air Force photos/Senior Airman Cole M. Presley)

Taurus XL launch scheduled

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- With the fairing door off, Orbital Science's Jose Castillo and Mark Neuse remove the fairing payload access door on NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory spacecraft on Launch Complex 576-E here. Orbital Science's Glenn Weigle and Brett Gladish stand by to take the GN2 flow reading The encapsulated OCO tops Orbital Sciences' Taurus XL rocket, which is scheduled to launch Feb. 24. The spacecraft will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. (Photo courtesy of NASA)

Go for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches at 2:22 a.m. February 6, 2009 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket carried a NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was Vandenberg’s first launch of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Go for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches at 2:22 a.m. February 6, 2009 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket carried a NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was Vandenberg’s first launch of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Go for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches at 2:22 a.m. February 6, 2009 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket carried a NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was Vandenberg’s first launch of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/2nd Lt. Justin Jessop)

Go for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches at 2:22 a.m. February 6, 2009 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket carried a NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This was Vandenberg’s first launch of 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Preparing for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket is exposed after the launch tower rollback Feb. 3. The rocket is carrying a NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (U.S Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephanie Longoria)

Lift off

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather satellite is raised into position for mate to Vandenberg's Delta II rocket. The rocket is scheduled to launch Feb. 4.

3 SOPS Ribbon Cutting

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif- Lt. Col. Brent McArthur, commander of the 3rd Space Operations Squadron, cuts a ribbon to announce the opening of 3rd SOPS, at the Vandenberg tracking station Nov. 12. The 3rd SOPS operates under the 50th Space Wing located at Schriever AFB, Colo. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Air Force Week

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- Members of Team Vandenberg inform the citizens of Los Angeles of the importance of space as it relates to the Air Force during Air Force Week Los Angeles Nov. 16 in the Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood, Calif. The Air Force Week program allows the Air Force to communicate to America's communities nationwide the critical role the Air Force plays in global humanitarian missions, the nation's dominance of air, space and cyberspace, and defending America's future. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Raymond Hoy)

minute man III

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launches at 1 a.m. Nov. 5 from North Vandenberg. The missile was configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly in which a single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,190 miles to their pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. (U.S. Air Force photo /Joe Davila)

minute man III

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launches at 1 a.m. Nov. 5 from North Vandenberg. The missile was configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly in which a single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,190 miles to their pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. (U.S. Air Force photo /Joe Davila)

Vandenberg successfully launches Minuteman III

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launches at 1 a.m. Nov. 5 from North Vandenberg. The missile was configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly in which a single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,190 miles to their pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. (U.S. Air Force photo / 2nd Lt. Raymond Geoffroy)

Vandenberg successfully launches Minuteman III

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launches at 1 a.m. Nov. 5 from North Vandenberg. The missile was configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly in which a single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,190 miles to their pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. (U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Tower Roll Back

The tower rolls back exposing a Delta II rocket hours before launch Oct. 24. Vandenberg successfully launched the Delta II rocket at 7:28 p.m. The rocket took off from Space Launch Complex-2 carrying the Thales Alenia-Space COSMO-SkyMed 3 Satellite. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Stephanie Longoria)

Delta II launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Oct. 24. The Rocket will be carrying an Italian based Cosmo satellite. (Courtesy photo)