Chimera launch

A Chimera target launch vehicle, which is a modified Minuteman booster vehicle with a simplified target payload, successfully launches at 11:57 p.m. September 23, 2008 from North Vandenberg. The launch was part of an exercise involving the tracking of a long-range target missile by the Near Field Infrared Experiment, or NFIRE, research satellite. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davilla)

Chimera launch

A Chimera target launch vehicle, which is a modified Minuteman booster vehicle with a simplified target payload, successfully launched at 11:57 p.m. September 23, 2008 from North Vandenberg. The launch was part of an exercise involving the tracking of a long-range target missile by the Near Field Infrared Experiment, or NFIRE, research satellite. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davilla)

Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- Vandenberg AFB successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 11:51 a.m. on Sept. 6. The rocket carried the GeoEye-1 Satellite into a circular Sun-synchronous orbit where the satellite will begin its mission of collecting multispectral or color images of the Earth for both government and commercial organizations. (Photo by Joe Davila)

Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- Vandenberg AFB successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 11:51 a.m. on Sept. 6. The rocket carried the GeoEye-1 Satellite into a circular Sun-synchronous orbit where the satellite will begin its mission of collecting multispectral or color images of the Earth for both government and commercial organizations. (Photo by Joe Davila)

Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- Vandenberg AFB successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 11:51 a.m. today. The rocket carried the GeoEye-1 Satellite into a circular Sun-synchronous orbit where the satellite will begin its mission of collecting multispectral or color images of the Earth for both government and commercial organizations. (Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Nathaniel Prost)

Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- Vandenberg AFB successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 11:51 a.m. today. The rocket carried the GeoEye-1 Satellite into a circular Sun-synchronous orbit where the satellite will begin its mission of collecting multispectral or color images of the Earth for both government and commercial organizations. (Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Nathaniel Prost)

Go For Launch

A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launches at 1:01 a.m. Aug. 13 from North Vandenberg AFB. The missile was configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, test assembly in which three unarmed re-entry vehicles traveled approximately 4,220 miles to their pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The launch was a throw-back to years past in which a maintenance task force from an operational missile wing, in this case the 341st Missile Wing from Malmstrom AFB, Mont., performed jobs unique to test operations while validating the work they perform at the northern tier bases. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Go For Launch

A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launches at 1:01 a.m. Aug. 13 from North Vandenberg AFB. The missile was configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, test assembly in which three unarmed re-entry vehicles traveled approximately 4,220 miles to their pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The launch was a throw-back to years past in which a maintenance task force from an operational missile wing, in this case the 341st Missile Wing from Malmstrom AFB, Mont., performed jobs unique to test operations while validating the work they perform at the northern tier bases. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., - Team Vandenberg successfully launches a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 12:46 a.m. Friday. The rocket carried the OSTM/Jason-2 Satellite into an 830-mile near-circular orbit. The primary role of the spacecraft will be to measure and gather information about ocean topography. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., - Team Vandenberg successfully launches a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 12:46 a.m. Friday. The rocket carried the OSTM/Jason-2 Satellite into an 830-mile near-circular orbit. The primary role of the spacecraft will be to measure and gather information about ocean topography. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., - Team Vandenberg successfully launches a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 12:46 a.m. Friday. The rocket carried the OSTM/Jason-2 Satellite into an 830-mile near-circular orbit. The primary role of the spacecraft will be to measure and gather information about ocean topography. ( U.S Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. LukeThelen)

Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team Vandenberg successfully launches a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 12:46 a.m. Friday. The rocket carried the OSTM/Jason-2 Satellite into an 830-mile near-circular orbit. The primary role of the spacecraft will be to measure and gather information about ocean topography. ( U.S Air Force photo/Airman First Class Andrew Lee )

Training device ensures safety

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif -- A training model of a ballistic acuator sits on a specially designed dolly in buidling 8415 here. The training model, built by Vandenberg's Training Device Design and Engineering Center, allows mechanics to see a cutaway view of the actuator. This helps them to more safely dismantle the device for refurbishing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

MMIII

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration joint test assembly launches May 22 from North Vandenberg's Launch Facility-10. The launch was an operational test to determine the weapon system’s reliability and accuracy. The missile's single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 5,250 miles before hitting its pre-determined target in a broad ocean area 230 nautical miles southwest of Guam.(Air Force photo)

Vandenberg successfully launches Minuteman III

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration joint test assembly launches May 22 from North Vandenberg's Launch Facility-10. The launch was an operational test to determine the weapon system’s reliability and accuracy. The missile's single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 5,250 miles before hitting its pre-determined target in a broad ocean area 230 nautical miles southwest of Guam. (U.S Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Nathaniel Prost)

Vandenberg successfully launches Minuteman III

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration joint test assembly launches May 22 from North Vandenberg's Launch Facility-10. The launch was an operational test to determine the weapon system’s reliability and accuracy. The missile's single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 5,250 miles before hitting its pre-determined target in a broad ocean area 230 nautical miles southwest of Guam. (U.S Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Stephanie Longoria)

Successful Missile Launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly launched from North Vandenberg April 1 at 1:01 a.m. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Joe Davila)

Successful Missile Launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly launched from North Vandenberg April 1 at 1:01 a.m. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Joe Davila)

Vandenberg Rod and Gun Club offers sporting clays

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Ed LaRoche, a Vandenberg Rod and Gun Club member, takes aim at a high flying target during a sporting clays round. Sporting clays is a skill competition that challenges a shooter to be aware and accurate. The rod and gun club offers the event the second and fourth sunday of every month, starting at 9 p.m. (Air Force Photo)

First Atlas V Launch from Vandenberg and the West Coast

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An Atlas V launches from Space Launch Complex-3 on March 13. Col. Steve Tanous, 30th Space Wing commander, was the space lift commander for this mission. This was the first Atlas V launched from Vandenberg and the west coast, as well as the first launch of the year. This milestone for Team Vandenberg is the product of the combined efforts of the 30th Space Wing, the National Reconnaissance Office, United Launch Alliance, the Space and Missile Systems Center, the Aerospace Corporation and more. SLC 3 was significantly modified to get ready for the next generation of space launch vehicles. The Atlas V will be its first launch since the modifications were completed. Previously used for 21 Atlas II launches, the pad received significant upgrades to accommodate the larger and more powerful booster. The tower was made taller, the overhang was extended with a much bigger crane, and the entire pad deck was reconfigured. The pad also features a brand new fixed launch platform. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila) (Released)

Atlas V Launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An Atlas V stands on Space Launch Complex-3 during its mobile servicing tower rollback on March 12. Col. Steve Tanous, 30th Space Wing commander, will be the space lift commander for this mission. This will be the first Atlas V launched from Vandenberg and the west coast, as well as the first launch of the year. This milestone for Team Vandenberg is the product of the combined efforts of the 30th Space Wing, the National Reconnaissance Office, United Launch Alliance, the Space and Missile Systems Center, the Aerospace Corporation and more. SLC 3 was significantly modified to get ready for the next generation of space launch vehicles. The Atlas V will be its first launch since the modifications were completed. Previously used for 21 Atlas II launches, the pad received significant upgrades to accommodate the larger and more powerful booster. The tower was made taller, the overhang was extended with a much bigger crane, and the entire pad deck was reconfigured. The pad also features a brand new fixed launch platform. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Satran)

First Atlas V Launch from Vandenberg and the West Coast

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An Atlas V stands on Space Launch Complex-3 during its mobile servicing tower rollback on March 12. Col. Steve Tanous, 30th Space Wing commander, will be the space lift commander for this mission. This will be the first Atlas V launched from Vandenberg and the west coast, as well as the first launch of the year. This milestone for Team Vandenberg is the product of the combined efforts of the 30th Space Wing, the National Reconnaissance Office, United Launch Alliance, the Space and Missile Systems Center, the Aerospace Corporation and more. SLC 3 was significantly modified to get ready for the next generation of space launch vehicles. The Atlas V will be its first launch since the modifications were completed. Previously used for 21 Atlas II launches, the pad received significant upgrades to accommodate the larger and more powerful booster. The tower was made taller, the overhang was extended with a much bigger crane, and the entire pad deck was reconfigured. The pad also features a brand new fixed launch platform. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Christian Thomas)

Team rehearsals, new pad makes Atlas V ready for first launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- This Atlas V (411) stands on SLC-3E before its launch from Vandenberg, set for later this week. It will carry a National Reconnaissance Office payload and be the first Altas V to launch from the west coast. (Courtesy photo)

Vandeberg prepares for Atlas V launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- Mr. George Matthews (right), a Centaur propulsion and pneumatics engineer, speaks with the local media about the upcoming Atlas V launch during a Jan. 31 tour of Space Launch Complex-3 here. The Atlas V is scheduled to launch Feb. 26 and will be the first one of it's kind to launch from the West Coast. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christopher Hubenthal)