Delta Mariner offloads launch components at Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The United Launch Alliance Delta Mariner, transporting a Delta IV first stage, second stage and payload fairings for an anticipated 2012 launch, docks at the Vandenberg Boat Dock on South Base Friday, Oct. 28, 2011. The Mariner departed Decatur, Ala., and traveled approximately 5,000 miles over a three week period to reach Vandenberg. (Courtesy photo)

Team Vandenberg launches Delta II rocket

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II rocket launches from Space Launch Complex 2 here Oct. 28, 2011. The rocket carried NASA's NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) satellite into orbit. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Satran)

Team Vandenberg launches Delta II rocket

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Vandenberg launched a Delta II rocket carrying the Aquarius/SAC-D (Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas) observatory from Space Launch Complex-2 here at 7:20 a.m. PDT Friday, June 10, 2011. The Aquarius/SAC-D observatory is a collaboration between NASA and Argentina's space agency, Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE). Aquarius is the NASA-built primary instrument on the SAC-D spacecraft, built by CONAE. Aquarius will map global changes in salinity -- the concentration of dissolved salt -- at the ocean surface. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Lael Huss)

Team Vandenberg launches Delta II rocket

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Vandenberg launched a Delta II rocket carrying the Aquarius/SAC-D (Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas) observatory from Space Launch Complex-2 here at 7:20 a.m. PDT Friday, June 10, 2011. The Aquarius/SAC-D observatory is a collaboration between NASA and Argentina's space agency, Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE). Aquarius is the NASA-built primary instrument on the SAC-D spacecraft, built by CONAE. Aquarius will map global changes in salinity -- the concentration of dissolved salt -- at the ocean surface. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jerry E. Clemens Jr.)

Vandenberg to launch Taurus XL

The Taurus XL rocket stands on pad 576-E during preparations for a Feb. 23 launch. The rocket will carry the spacecraft Glory into polar orbit for NASA.

Vandenberg to launch Taurus XL

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.--The Taurus XL rocket stands on pad 576-E during preparations for a Feb. 23 launch. The rocket will carry the spacecraft Glory into polar orbit for NASA.

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/Senior Airman Andrew Satran)

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 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. Mackely)

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)