Andrew Yee
February 1st 06, 12:10 AM
Air Force Space Command News Service
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2006
Story ID 01-021
3,2,1 ... Blastoff! Vandenberg preps for another year of flawless launches
By Airman 1st Class Stephen Cadette, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 2006 launch schedule for
Vandenberg is looking to be the busiest in six years, with twice the
launches planned as last year, according to the 30th Space Wing Plans
office.
With almost as many different launch vehicles there are agencies which
execute the programs, this year's launch schedule will demonstrate a
variety of missions.
"This will be another exciting launch year for Vandenberg," said Col. Jack
Weinstein, 30th Space Wing commander. "We get to follow up the flawless
launch of the last Titan IV in 2005 by launching the first evolved
expendable launch vehicles, the Delta IV and Atlas V, from Vandenberg in
addition to the many other missions slated for this year. We have the most
exciting mission in the Department of Defense, and no one does it better."
One mission is the management of DoD space and missile testing. An
organization that carries out that mission is the 576th Flight Test
Squadron. A squadron with a heritage extending back to World War II, its
mission is to evaluate the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile
force.
"We test all aspects of the ICBM weapon system through rigorous software
testing, simulated electronic launches conducted on the fielded system,
and operational test launches here at VAFB using operational missiles (to)
ultimately improve the ICBM force," said Lt. Col. Stephen Davis, 576th
FLTS commander. "As a result, the tremendous capability of our ICBM force
is available at a moment's notice to deter any potential adversaries."
Five Minuteman III ICBM launches are scheduled this year, the first for
Feb. 15. The 576th will work with the other missile wings at Minot AFB,
N.D., Malmstrom AFB, Mont., and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., to complete these
missions, Colonel Davis said.
"The first launch of the year will be a certification flight for the Mk21
warhead, testing our ability to place the newer, safer and more accurate
reentry vehicle previously fielded on the Peacekeeper ICBM, on the
Minuteman III," the colonel said. "We're partnering with the 526th ICBM
Systems Wing and Department of Energy to complete certification for using
the Mk21 warhead on the Minuteman III."
Another of Vandenberg's missions is the emplacement of polar-orbiting
satellites. Vandenberg is unique in that it is the only site the DoD uses
to launch payloads into polar orbit. Such satellites can predict the
weather, map the earth's surface, relay reconnaissance information and
more.
Several familiar launch vehicles like the Delta II and Pegasus are in the
planning stages for the upcoming year. The Pegasus rocket, Vandenberg's
second 2006 launch scheduled for Feb. 28, is carried to 40,000 feet by a
Stargazer aircraft where it is released and launched into low-earth orbit.
The Pegasus successfully launched NASA's Demonstration of Autonomous
Rendezvous Technology, or DART, satellite from Vandenberg April 15, 2005.
The 1st Air and Space Test Squadron performs mission management and launch
operations for small space launch vehicles like the Minotaur, a low-cost
four-stage space launch vehicle made from the first two stages of
Minuteman II and the upper stages from Orbital Suborbital's Taurus launch
vehicle. The next Minotaur mission is scheduled to launch the end of
March.
In addition to the older technologies like the Pegasus and Minotaur,
Vandenberg is preparing for a paradigm shift to meet the next generation
of space launch needs with the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.
"The boosters on Lockheed Martin's Atlas V and the Boeing Delta IV
represent the latest in advanced launch technology," said 1st Lt. David
Romero, 4th Space Launch Squadron. The EELVs from Vandenberg are the only
means for the nation to put medium or heavy payloads into polar orbit.
Vandenberg has plans to launch both Atlas V and Delta IV vehicles in 2006.
For an up-to-date launch schedule, go to
http://mocc.vandenberg.af.mil/launchsched.asp
IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://www.peterson.af.mil/hqafspc/News/images/01-021a%20launch%20summary.jpg
(173KB)]
The last Titan IV spacecraft stands ready to lift off from Space Launch
Complex-4 East Oct. 19, 2005. The last Titan launch made way for the
Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program set to commence at Vandenberg
this year with the launch of Boeingıs Delta IV and Lockheed Martinıs Atlas
V vehicles. (Photo by Airman Bryan Boyette)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2006
Story ID 01-021
3,2,1 ... Blastoff! Vandenberg preps for another year of flawless launches
By Airman 1st Class Stephen Cadette, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 2006 launch schedule for
Vandenberg is looking to be the busiest in six years, with twice the
launches planned as last year, according to the 30th Space Wing Plans
office.
With almost as many different launch vehicles there are agencies which
execute the programs, this year's launch schedule will demonstrate a
variety of missions.
"This will be another exciting launch year for Vandenberg," said Col. Jack
Weinstein, 30th Space Wing commander. "We get to follow up the flawless
launch of the last Titan IV in 2005 by launching the first evolved
expendable launch vehicles, the Delta IV and Atlas V, from Vandenberg in
addition to the many other missions slated for this year. We have the most
exciting mission in the Department of Defense, and no one does it better."
One mission is the management of DoD space and missile testing. An
organization that carries out that mission is the 576th Flight Test
Squadron. A squadron with a heritage extending back to World War II, its
mission is to evaluate the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile
force.
"We test all aspects of the ICBM weapon system through rigorous software
testing, simulated electronic launches conducted on the fielded system,
and operational test launches here at VAFB using operational missiles (to)
ultimately improve the ICBM force," said Lt. Col. Stephen Davis, 576th
FLTS commander. "As a result, the tremendous capability of our ICBM force
is available at a moment's notice to deter any potential adversaries."
Five Minuteman III ICBM launches are scheduled this year, the first for
Feb. 15. The 576th will work with the other missile wings at Minot AFB,
N.D., Malmstrom AFB, Mont., and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., to complete these
missions, Colonel Davis said.
"The first launch of the year will be a certification flight for the Mk21
warhead, testing our ability to place the newer, safer and more accurate
reentry vehicle previously fielded on the Peacekeeper ICBM, on the
Minuteman III," the colonel said. "We're partnering with the 526th ICBM
Systems Wing and Department of Energy to complete certification for using
the Mk21 warhead on the Minuteman III."
Another of Vandenberg's missions is the emplacement of polar-orbiting
satellites. Vandenberg is unique in that it is the only site the DoD uses
to launch payloads into polar orbit. Such satellites can predict the
weather, map the earth's surface, relay reconnaissance information and
more.
Several familiar launch vehicles like the Delta II and Pegasus are in the
planning stages for the upcoming year. The Pegasus rocket, Vandenberg's
second 2006 launch scheduled for Feb. 28, is carried to 40,000 feet by a
Stargazer aircraft where it is released and launched into low-earth orbit.
The Pegasus successfully launched NASA's Demonstration of Autonomous
Rendezvous Technology, or DART, satellite from Vandenberg April 15, 2005.
The 1st Air and Space Test Squadron performs mission management and launch
operations for small space launch vehicles like the Minotaur, a low-cost
four-stage space launch vehicle made from the first two stages of
Minuteman II and the upper stages from Orbital Suborbital's Taurus launch
vehicle. The next Minotaur mission is scheduled to launch the end of
March.
In addition to the older technologies like the Pegasus and Minotaur,
Vandenberg is preparing for a paradigm shift to meet the next generation
of space launch needs with the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.
"The boosters on Lockheed Martin's Atlas V and the Boeing Delta IV
represent the latest in advanced launch technology," said 1st Lt. David
Romero, 4th Space Launch Squadron. The EELVs from Vandenberg are the only
means for the nation to put medium or heavy payloads into polar orbit.
Vandenberg has plans to launch both Atlas V and Delta IV vehicles in 2006.
For an up-to-date launch schedule, go to
http://mocc.vandenberg.af.mil/launchsched.asp
IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://www.peterson.af.mil/hqafspc/News/images/01-021a%20launch%20summary.jpg
(173KB)]
The last Titan IV spacecraft stands ready to lift off from Space Launch
Complex-4 East Oct. 19, 2005. The last Titan launch made way for the
Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program set to commence at Vandenberg
this year with the launch of Boeingıs Delta IV and Lockheed Martinıs Atlas
V vehicles. (Photo by Airman Bryan Boyette)