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)

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)

Go For Launch

A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launches at 1:01 a.m. Aug. 13 from North Vandenberg AFB. The missile was configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, test assembly in which three unarmed re-entry vehicles traveled approximately 4,220 miles to their pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The launch was a throw-back to years past in which a maintenance task force from an operational missile wing, in this case the 341st Missile Wing from Malmstrom AFB, Mont., performed jobs unique to test operations while validating the work they perform at the northern tier bases. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Go For Launch

A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launches at 1:01 a.m. Aug. 13 from North Vandenberg AFB. The missile was configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA, test assembly in which three unarmed re-entry vehicles traveled approximately 4,220 miles to their pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The launch was a throw-back to years past in which a maintenance task force from an operational missile wing, in this case the 341st Missile Wing from Malmstrom AFB, Mont., performed jobs unique to test operations while validating the work they perform at the northern tier bases. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

Training device ensures safety

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif -- A training model of a ballistic acuator sits on a specially designed dolly in buidling 8415 here. The training model, built by Vandenberg's Training Device Design and Engineering Center, allows mechanics to see a cutaway view of the actuator. This helps them to more safely dismantle the device for refurbishing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrew Lee)

MMIII

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration joint test assembly launches May 22 from North Vandenberg's Launch Facility-10. The launch was an operational test to determine the weapon system’s reliability and accuracy. The missile's single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 5,250 miles before hitting its pre-determined target in a broad ocean area 230 nautical miles southwest of Guam.(Air Force photo)