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)