Atlas IIAS

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. -- A Lockheed Martin Astronautics Atlas IIAS rocket successfully launched the European W3 communication satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit April 12, 1999. It was the second successful Atlas launch of 1999 from Cape Canaveral and the 43rd consecutive successful flight. The Atlas IIAS, designated AC-154 for the W3 mission, is one of two Atlas II family configurations presently launching satellites for commercial and government customers worldwide. The Atlas II series, including the II, IIA and IIAS, has achieved 100 percent operational success since the introduction of each launch vehicle. (Courtesy photo)

Delta II liftoff

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. --Clouds of smoke and steam billow around the Boeing Delta II rocket as it roars into the sky after liftoff. The rocket is carrying NASA's Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite. FUSE was developed to investigate the origin and evolution of the lightest elements in the universe - hydrogen and deuterium. In addition, the FUSE satellite will examine the forces and process involved in the evolution of the galaxies, stars and planetary systems by investigating light in the far ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. (Courtesy photo)

Atlas III

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. -- An Atlas III space lift vehicle made its debut on May 24, 2000 in a dramatic liftoff powered by the new Russian RD-180 engine. The liftoff occurred at 7:10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, followed by successful separation of the W4 spacecraft and insertion into geosynchronous transfer orbit just under 29 minutes later. The AC-201 flight marks the first Russian rocket engine to be provided by Pratt & Whitney and is the first Russian rocket engine to power an American launch vehicle. A P&W upper stage engine, the RL10 (RL10A-4-1B model), powered the Atlas first single-engine Centaur configuration. (Courtesy photo)

Titan IV-B

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Titan IV-B rocket lifts off August 17, 2000. The rocket carried a National Reconnaissance Office satellite into orbit. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Pamela Taubman)

Delta II

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Vandenberg successfully launched a Boeing Delta II rocket carrying the Jason 1 and Timed satellites from Space Launch Complex-2 on Dec. 7. This was the second Delta II launched from Vandenberg this year. Jason 1 is a joint U.S./French oceanography mission. Jason 1 will monitor world ocean circulation, study interactions of the oceans and atmosphere, improve climate predictions and observe events such as El Nino. The NASA timed spacecraft will conduct the first global study of the Earth’s mesosphere, lower thermosphere and ionosphere. The project is managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., for NASA and the French space agency. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Atlas IIAS

FILE PHOTO -- The U.S. Air Force successfully launched an Atlas IIAS rocket Dec. 5 at 9:47 p.m. EST. The payload it lofted into space is a satellite designed, built and operated by the National Reconnaissance Office. (Courtesy photo)

Crusaders

OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon belonging to the Crusaders of the 523rd Fighter Squadron, 27th Fighter Wing, Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., launches for a combat air patrol mission at a deployed location in Southwest Asia. The 523rd is enforcing the No-Fly, No-Drive zone in Southern Iraq during Operation Southern Watch. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James D. Mossman)

Nose job

OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH -- Senior Airman Daryl Picard (left) and Airman First Class Lee Devalinger, from the 605th Aircraft Generation Squadron , McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., lower the nose cone of a KC-10 refueler after changing the weather radar dish, Feb. 24. Both the aircraft and the members are with the 2nd Air Expeditionary Group in Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean, supporting operation Southern Watch. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Michael E. Buytas Jr.)

Buff landing

OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH -- A B-52 from the 96th Bomber Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., arrives at Diego Garcia as part of the Second Air Expeditionary Group. Air Combat Command's B-52 is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. It can carry nuclear or conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Diane Robinson)

A-10 practice run

1990's -- OPERATION SOUTHERN WATCH -- An A-10 Thunderbolt II flies over a practice range near Al Udairi, Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch. This Maryland Air National Guard A-10 is dropping inert bombs during a practice run. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Orville Desjarlais)

U-2 Dragon Lady

FILE PHOTO -- The U-2 provides continuous day or night, high-altitude, all-weather, stand-off surveillance of an area in direct support of U.S. and allied ground and air forces. It provides critical intelligence to decision makers through all phases of conflict, including peacetime indications and warnings, crises, low-intensity conflict and large-scale hostilities. The U-2 is a single-seat, single-engine, high-altitude, reconnaissance aircraft. Long, wide, straight wings give the U-2 glider-like characteristics. It can carry a variety of sensors and cameras, is an extremely reliable reconnaissance aircraft, and enjoys a high mission completion rate. Because of its high altitude mission, the pilot must wear a full pressure suit. The U-2 is capable of collecting multi-sensor photo, electro-optic, infrared and radar imagery, as well as performing other types of reconnaissance functions. However, the aircraft can be a difficult aircraft to fly due to its unusual landing characteristics. The aircraft is being upgraded with a lighter engine (General Electric F-118-101) that burns less fuel, cuts weight and increases power. The entire fleet should be reengined by 1998. Other upgrades are to the sensors and adding the Global Positioning System that will superimpose geo-coordinates directly on collected images. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Rose Reynolds)

U-2

FILE PHOTO -- The U-2 provides continuous day or night, high-altitude, all-weather, stand-off surveillance of an area in direct support of U.S. and allied ground and air forces. It provides critical intelligence to decision makers through all phases of conflict, including peacetime indications and warnings, crises, low-intensity conflict and large-scale hostilities.The U-2 is a single-seat, single-engine, high-altitude, reconnaissance aircraft. Long, wide, straight wings give the U-2 glider-like characteristics. It can carry a variety of sensors and cameras, is an extremely reliable reconnaissance aircraft, and enjoys a high mission completion rate. Because of its high altitude mission, the pilot must wear a full pressure suit. The U-2 is capable of collecting multi-sensor photo, electro-optic, infrared and radar imagery, as well as performing other types of reconnaissance functions. However, the aircraft can be a difficult aircraft to fly due to its unusual landing characteristics. (Air Force photo)