Test launch a success

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/2nd Lt. Raymond Geoffroy)

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)

Delta II Launch

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. (Courtesy Photo)

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/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/Staff Sgt Luke P. Thelen)

Training device ensures safety

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., -- Ray Brown (right) and Frank Amadaor, both ordanance equipment engineers of the 581st Missile Maintenance Squadron, secure a dismantled ballistic actuator here June 16. The ballistic actuator is used to quickly open the launch enclosure during Minuteman III training launches here. (U.S. Air Force photo / SrA Christopher Hubenthal)