Up and Away!

Luke Vibal, a first-grade student at St. Mary of the Assumption School in Santa Maria, Calif., watches a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket blast into orbit carrying a NASA payload. Students from St. Mary's visited the base as part of a science field trip Feb. 11, 2013. Luke is the son of Natalie and Capt. Ludell Vibal, a launch mission manager. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Maj. Stacie N. Shafran)

Team V launches Atlas V

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team V launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a NASA payload at 10:02 a.m. here Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. The Atlas V was launched from Space Launch Complex-3 and was the sixth launch for Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Team V launches Atlas V rocket

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team V launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a NASA payload at 10:02 a.m. here Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. The Atlas V was launched from Space Launch Complex-3 and was the sixth launch for Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

Team V launches Atlas V rocket

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team V launched a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a NASA payload at 10:02 a.m. here Monday, Feb. 11, 2013. The Atlas V was launched from Space Launch Complex-3 and was the sixth launch for Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

Lift off

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) from Space Launch Complex-6 here at 4:12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, April 3, 2012. The launch was the Department of Defense’s first-ever Delta IV Medium launch vehicle configured with a 5-meter payload fairing and two solid rocket motors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rodney Jones)

First Delta IV Medium in 5/2 configuration launches from Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) from Space Launch Complex-6 here at 4:12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, April 3, 2012. The launch was the Department of Defense?s first-ever Delta IV Medium launch vehicle configured with a 5-meter payload fairing and two solid rocket motors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

First Delta IV Medium in 5/2 configuration launches from Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) from Space Launch Complex-6 here at 4:12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, April 3, 2012. The launch was the Department of Defense?s first-ever Delta IV Medium launch vehicle configured with a 5-meter payload fairing and two solid rocket motors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

First Delta IV Medium in 5/2 configuration launches from Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) from Space Launch Complex-6 here at 4:12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, April 3, 2012. The launch was the Department of Defense?s first-ever Delta IV Medium launch vehicle configured with a 5-meter payload fairing and two solid rocket motors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

Lift Off

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) from Space Launch Complex-6 here at 4:12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, April 3, 2012. The launch was the Department of Defense's first-ever Delta IV Medium launch vehicle configured with a 5-meter payload fairing and two solid rocket motors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Lift Off!

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.-- Team Vandenberg launched a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium+ (5,2) from Space Launch Complex-6 here at 4:12 p.m. PDT Tuesday, April 3, 2012. The launch was the Department of Defense’s first-ever Delta IV Medium launch vehicle configured with a 5-meter payload fairing and two solid rocket motors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Levi Riendeau)

Vandenberg’s new simulator; virtual excellence

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A refurbished Titan II engine hangs in Bogart Bay here Thursday, March 8, 2012. Members of the 4th Space Launch Squadron reused surplus materials found around base to complete their training facility. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Jennifer Green-Lanchoney)

Vandenberg’s new simulator; virtual excellence

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Tech. Sgt. Kevin Sisk, 4th Space Launch Squadron mission assurance technician, connects wires in a trainer while 2nd Lt. Megan Kuchan, 4th SLS infrastructure officer in-charge looks on here Thursday, March 8, 2012. Bogart Bay is a realistic training facility built to mimic the interior of a launch pad. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Jennifer Green-Lanchoney)