Lift off!

An Air Force Global Strike Command Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a simulated re-entry vehicle was launched during an operational test at 3:07 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, from Launch Facility 10 on North Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo/Levi Riendeau)

Minuteman III test missile launches from Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test from a launch facility on north Vandenberg Friday, Feb. 25, 2012. Col. Nina Armagno, 30th Space Wing commander, was the launch decision authority. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Minuteman III test missile launches from Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test from a launch facility on north Vandenberg Friday, Feb. 25, 2012. Col. Nina Armagno, 30th Space Wing commander, was the launch decision authority. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Minuteman III test missile launches from Vandenberg

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test from a launch facility on north Vandenberg Friday, Feb. 25, 2012. Col. Nina Armagno, 30th Space Wing commander, was the launch decision authority. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

minute man III

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launches at 1 a.m. Nov. 5 from North Vandenberg. The missile was configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly in which a single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,190 miles to their pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. (U.S. Air Force photo /Joe Davila)

minute man III

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launches at 1 a.m. Nov. 5 from North Vandenberg. The missile was configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly in which a single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,190 miles to their pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. (U.S. Air Force photo /Joe Davila)