Around the Base

Explore Vandenberg AFB*
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*SEE – Click on Explore Vandenberg AFB to locate site LFO5 silo in “Minuteman Area” this is where this missile was launched from.

Note- Brief History of USAF Missile Launches (see write up below)

Minuteman III launch
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Photos courtesy of Pete Taylor

Click on thumbnails to see full size

Brief History of USAF Missile Launches and the 51st MMS

Vandenberg AFB, has been conducting missile launches to test and evaluate USAF operational missiles for over 50 years. The majority of these launches have been conducted to test missile that have been on actual Alert status, through out the United States. The older missile systems, Thor, Atlas, Titan and recently the PeaceKeeper, have all gone through the Operational Readiness Testing, using hardware and the crews from the respective AFB Due to advances in technology and the requirements of SALT II and .START Treaties, the payloads and systems has been reduced. At the present time MMIII, is our “Ace in the Hole” and so testing of this system continues . The Re-Entry Vehicles used on all of these missiles was assembled, tested and installed by 51st MMS and recently by 576FTS personnel. This is quite a legacy when you think about all the invaluable information that was obtained and the history that was created. These old sites, SLC , 394 [now LF], 395 and 576 stand as a reminder of the early Space Programs and efforts by many people to keep this great country strong and free.