Vandy Preps First Atlas V

Feb. 5, 2008

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Airmen and contractors at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., are preparing for the West Coast Launch Facility’s first launch of an Atlas V evolved expendable launch vehicle. It is scheduled for lift-off on Feb. 26. The Vandenberg space team already has launched an EELV, in fact two of them. The facility launched two Delta IV boosters in 2006 out of Space Launch Complex-6. The Atlas V will use SLC-3, which has undergone a $300 million refurbishment by United Launch Alliance to accommodate the larger booster. (30th Space Wing report by 2nd Lt. Raymond Geoffroy.)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Air Force Eyes New-Build F-16s to Boost Fighter Force

Space Force Accepting Applications for Interservice Transfers Until Oct. 2

More Fighters Deploy to Middle East Amid Readiness Concerns

USSF Leaders Lay Out the Path to More Than Double the Force

Related

Pentagon Picks 2 Companies for Reconnaissance Satellite Demo

Sept. 18, 2026
The Space Force and the Defense Innovation Unit have chosen two firms to demonstrate the ability of small satellites built with low-cost, commercial technology to track both friendly and adversary satellites in geosynchronous orbit. 

USSF Leaders Lay Out the Path to More Than Double the Force

Sept. 17, 2026
When Space Force leaders started talking about expanding the service early this year, the idea was simple: double the size of the force in the next five years. At AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber conference this week, officials detailed just how they’re planning to grow so much so quickly.