Atlas V launch successful

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. -- A United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying the Air Force's Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F18 mission lifts off from Space Launch Complex-3 here at 9:12 a.m. Despite a foggy day, the Atlas V flawlessly delivered DMSP F18 successfully to its assigned orbit after an 18 minute flight. (United Launch Alliance photo/Pat Corkery)

Atlas V launch successful

VANDENBERG AFB, Calif. -- A United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying the Air Force's Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F18 mission lifts off from Space Launch Complex-3 here at 9:12 a.m. Despite a foggy day, the Atlas V flawlessly delivered DMSP F18 successfully to its assigned orbit after an 18 minute flight. (United Launch Alliance photo/Pat Corkery)

Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Vandenberg successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 at 1:24 p.m. May 5. At approximately one hour after liftoff, with confirmation of the payload's delivery into low Earth orbit, the launch was pronounced a success. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Steady as she goes

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Delta II Rocket fairing is moved into position March 11 at the bottom of the Main Support Tower, or MST, of a Delta II Rocket at Space Launch Complex-2 here. The rocket will carry the Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction, or STSS-ATRR, research and development satellite for the Missile Defense Agency. NASA will oversee the launch. The Delta II is scheduled for launch May 5. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mark Mackley)

Taurus XL Rocket Launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Taurus XL rocket equipped with NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite launches at 1:55 a.m. Feb. 24 from the 576th-E Space Launch Complex here. This was Vandenberg's second launch of the year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

Taurus awaits launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- On Space Launch Complex 576-E here, NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory is scheduled to launch aboard the Taurus LX rocket Feb. 24. The spacecraft will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere. (U.S. Air Force photos/Senior Airman Christian Thomas)

Taurus XL launch scheduled

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- On Launch Complex 576-E here, the cables from the crane overhead are removed from NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory upper stack. OCO is scheduled for launch the Taurus rocket Feb. 24 from Vandenberg. The spacecraft will collect precise global measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the Earth's atmosphere. (Photo courtesy of NASA)

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/Joe Davila)

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/Joe Davila)

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/Joe Davila)

Preparing for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A launch tower retracts, exposing a Delta II rocket hours before launch 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)

Preparing for launch

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A launch tower retracts, exposing a Delta II rocket hours before launch 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)

Clean Up

Pad clean up personnel assess damage to Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-2 after the base successfully launched a Delta II rocket at 7:28 p.m. October 24. The rocket took off from SLC-2 carrying the Thales Alenia-Space COSMO-SkyMed 3 Satellite. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Stephanie Longoria)

Tower Roll Back

The tower rolls back exposing a Delta II rocket hours before launch Oct. 24. Vandenberg successfully launched the Delta II rocket at 7:28 p.m. The rocket took off from Space Launch Complex-2 carrying the Thales Alenia-Space COSMO-SkyMed 3 Satellite. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Stephanie Longoria)

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)

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/Staff Sgt. LukeThelen)

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)

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/Aaron Taubman) (Released)