Congratulations to Vandenberg AFB which successfully launched a Delta II rocket today at 7:28 p.m. preparing for the event in record time. The rocket took off from Space Launch Complex-2 carrying the Thales Alenia-Space COSMO-SkyMed 3 Satellite. The 30th Space Wing team supported the United Launch Alliance in preparing for the launch in just six weeks after the successful launch of the GeoEye-1 satellite in September. Normally SLC-2 crews have three to four months to prepare for a launch. On right: The tower rolls back exposing a Delta II rocket hours before launch Oct. 24. Vandenberg successfully launched the Delta II rocket at 7:28 p.m. The rocket took off from Space Launch Complex-2 carrying the Thales Alenia-Space COSMO-SkyMed 3 Satellite. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Stephanie Longoria)

“As prime contractor of this ambitious program, we are very proud of the successful launch of the third COSMO-SkyMed satellite. Thales Alenia Space has once more shown its capacity and its know-how to face the great technological challenge involved in this program which sets the Italian space industry as one of the most advanced in the World”. Luigi Pasquali, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space Italia. On left: A Delta II rocket successfully launches at 7:28 p.m. October 24 from Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex-2. The rocket took off carrying the Thales Alenia-Space COSMO-SkyMed 3 Satellite. (Courtesy Photo) 

Col. David Buck, 30th Space Wing commander, was the spacelift commander for this mission. "People don't always think about it, but this is rocket science, and our Airmen and industry partners make it look easy. I'm blown away by the professionalism and dedication of all of Team Vandenberg. Once again Team Vandenberg was part of an international effort to assure our allies a gateway to space," Colonel Buck said. "Each launch provides unique challenges to overcome, whether it's an engineering hurdle or language barrier. When it comes to launch night, however, Vandenberg delivers."

The Delta II is an expendable launch, medium-lift vehicle. It carries civil and commercial payloads into low-earth, polar, geosynchronous transfer and stationary orbits. For approximately two decades, the Delta II has been a workhorse in the world of spacelift with 134 successful launches. The COSMO-SkyMed 3 satellite, entirely developed and produced in Italy, is an end-to-end Earth observation dual-use (civilian and military) system composed of four satellites and ground stations. The first two COSMO-SkyMed satellites were launched at Vandenberg in June and December 2007. On right: Pad clean up personnel assess damage to Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-2 after the base successfully launched a Delta II rocket at 7:28 p.m. October 24. The rocket took off from SLC-2 carrying the Thales Alenia-Space COSMO-SkyMed 3 Satellite. (U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Stephanie Longoria)