Vandenberg conducts Minuteman III flight test

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A scheduled unarmed operational test Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launch occurred here at 3:03 a.m., Sept. 17 from Launch Facility-09. The missile's single reentry test vehicle traveled approximately 5,300 miles to a pre-determined target about 200 miles southwest of Guam. ICBM analysts, including the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, will use the data collected to ensure the readiness and capability of the ICBM fleet. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrew Lee)

Vandenberg conducts Minuteman III flight test

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Launch team members from the 576th Flight Test Squadron conduct pre-flight operations for a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launch here Friday, Sept. 17, 2010. The launch tested the missiles operational effectiveness, readiness and accuracy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrew Lee)

Vandenberg launches ground-based interceptor

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - The 30th Space Wing and Missile Defense Agency launched a ground-based interceptor at 3:25 p.m. Sunday, June 6, 2010, from North Vandenberg. This was the first missile defense program launch from Vandenberg's Launch Facility 24, which was recently upgraded to support missile defense testing. (US Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andrew Satran)

Minotaur launches

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Team Vandenberg launched the first Minotaur IV Lite launch vehicle at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 22, 2010, from Space Launch Complex-8 here. The rocket launched the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Delta IV Heavy

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Lt. Col. Brady Hauboldt, the 4th Space Launch Squadron commander, talks to the media about the Delta IV Heavy, showing the tip of the rocket here Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. The Delta IV is scheduled to launch in December 2010. The Delta IV Heavy will be the largest rocket to ever launch from Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Delta IV Heavy

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Inside Space Launch Complex-6 here Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010, United Launch Alliance prepares a Delta IV Heavy for its scheduled December 2010 launch date. This rocket will be the first Delta IV Heavy West Coast launch and the largest rocket to ever launch from Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

NASA WISE Delta II launch successful

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg launched a Delta II rocket Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, from Space Launch Complex 2 here. The rocket carried NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

NASA WISE Delta II launch successful

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg launched a Delta II rocket Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, from Space Launch Complex 2 here. The rocket carried NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Heavy lifting

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- United Launch Alliance workers position a Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite for emplacement onto an ULA Delta II rocket. The satellite will observe the entire sky in mid-infrared wavelengths with greater sensitivity than ever before. The rocket is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-2 on Dec. 9. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mark P. Mackley)

Heavy lifting

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- United Launch Alliance workers prepare to hoist a Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite for emplacement onto an ULA Delta II rocket. The satellite will observe the entire sky in mid-infrared wavelengths with greater sensitivity than ever before. The rocket is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-2 on Dec. 9. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mark P. Mackley)

Launch preparations

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- United Luanch Alliance workers position a solid rocket motor for emplacement on a Delta II rocket. The Delta II rocket will launch NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite, which will observe the entire sky in mid-infrared wavelengths with greater sensitivity than ever before. (Courtesy photo/Mark P. Mackley)

Launch preparations

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASED, Calif. -- United Luanch Alliance workers lift a solid rocket motor for emplacement on a Delta II rocket. The Delta II rocket will launch NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite, which will observe the entire sky in mid-infrared wavelengths with greater sensitivity than ever before. (Courtesy photo/Mark P. Mackley)