Editing Vandenberg Space Force Base (section)

===== Ballistic missile testing =====
====== PGM-17 Thor ======
[[File:Thor IRBM.jpg|thumb|upright|PGM-17 Thor IRBM]]
The transition from U.S. Army camp to missile base solidified on 15 December 1958 when Vandenberg AFB successfully launched its first missile, a PGM-17 Thor IRBM ([[Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile]]). The launch from Vandenberg inaugurated the intermediate-range ballistic missile portion of the [[Pacific Missile Range Facility|Pacific Missile Range]] and was fired by a crew from the [[1st Missile Division]]. The first successful launch of a Thor IRBM by a [[Royal Air Force]] crew took place at Vandenberg AFB on 16 April 1959. The launch was part of integrated weapon system training. In October 1959, the first combat training launch of a Thor IRBM by a Royal Air Force crew was successful.

On 22 April 1960, the fourth and final British-based Thor IRBM squadron was turned over to the Royal Air Force by the Strategic Air Command, thus completing the [[Project Emily|deployment of this weapon system]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. The next month, the first missile to be removed from an operational unit and sent to Vandenberg AFB for confidence firing arrived from a Thor IRBM squadron ([[No. 98 Squadron RAF]]) in the United Kingdom. Confidence firing was the predecessor of SAC's operational test program.<ref name="vafbhistory"/><ref name="Chronology"/>

====== SM-65 Atlas ======
[[File:Atlas missiles on alert at Vandenberg Air Force Base - 1960.jpg|thumb|Atlas missiles on alert, 1960]]
On 16 October 1958, the first Atlas ICBM launcher (576A-1) constructed at Vandenberg AFB, California, was accepted from the contractor by the 1st Missile Division. The first intercontinental ballistic missile, the [[SM-65D Atlas]] [[ICBM]], was delivered and was accepted by SAC's [[576th Strategic Missile Squadron]] on 18 February 1959. The first [[SM-65 Atlas|Atlas-D]] flew on 9 September 1959, and following the successful launch, General Thomas S. Power, CINCSAC, declared the Atlas ICBM to be operational. The following month, equipped with a nuclear warhead, the Atlas at Vandenberg became the first ICBM to be placed on alert in the United States. It was an SM-69D Atlas ICBM (AFSN 58-2190) on launcher 576A-1. In April 1960, the first attempted launch of a Series D Atlas ICBM from a coffin-type launcher (576B-2) was successful. This launcher was the prototype of the ones to be used at the first operational Atlas squadron, the 564th Strategic Missile Squadron, [[Francis E. Warren Air Force Base]], [[Wyoming]]. Following this successful launch, Major General David Wade, Commander of the [[1st Missile Division]], declared the coffin-type launcher to be operational.<ref name="Chronology"/>

In July 1959, construction began on the first Series E Atlas ICBM coffin-type launcher (Atlas operational system test facility #1). On 28 February 1962, the first successful launch of the [[SM-65E Atlas]] took place. Construction began on the first [[SM-65F Atlas]] ICBM "silo-lift" launcher (Atlas operational system test facility #2) in November 1962. The first Atlas F arrived in June 1961 and the first operationally configured Series F Atlas was successfully launched on 1 August 1962.<ref name="Chronology" />

During its testing phase, Vandenberg would operate two Atlas-D launch complexes; two Atlas-E, and three Atlas-F silos.<ref name="Atlas ICBM Sites">{{cite web |url=http://www.techbastard.com/missile/atlas/silo/index.php|title=Atlas Missile Silo Coordinates|publisher=Techbastard.com|access-date=31 March 2013}}</ref> The Atlas-Ds were taken off alert at the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron (Complex 576B) in May 1964 as part of the phaseout of the Atlas from active ICBM service. The last Atlas F test launch was on 18 January 1965, and the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron was inactivated on 2 April 1966. The 576th SMS carried out 53 Atlas-D, 7 Atlas-E and 7 Atlas-F test launches between 1959 and 1965.<ref name="Chronology" />

The Atlas would remain in use as a launch vehicle for satellites from Vandenberg as a space booster configured with an [[RM-81 Agena]] upper-stage rocket and the [[Atlas-Agena]] would launch many different types of satellites into orbit until its phaseout in the late 1980s.<ref name="vafbhistory" />

====== HGM-25A Titan I ======
[[File:Titan I missile emerges from its silo at Vandenberg Operational System Test Facility in 1960.jpg|thumb|Titan I missile emerges from its silo at Vandenberg Operational System Test Facility in 1960.]]The [[HGM-25A Titan I]] was the United States' first multistage ICBM. When designed and manufactured, the Titan I provided an additional nuclear deterrent to complement the U.S. Air Force's SM-65 Atlas missile. It was the first in a series of Titan rockets, and was an important step in building the Air Force's strategic nuclear forces.

In July 1958, construction began on the Titan I ICBM Operational System Test Facility (OSTF). This was the prototype of the hardened Titan I launch control facility at its operational sites. It consisted of one silo-lift launcher, blockhouse, and associated equipment. Designated "OSTF-8", the facility was destroyed on 3 December 1960 when the launcher elevator failed while lowering a fully fueled missile back into the silo. There were no injuries. This was the first silo accident at Vandenberg.<ref name="Chronology"/>

The first "silo-lift" launch of the Titan I was successful in September 1961, and the first SAC launch of the ICBM was successful in January 1962. As a result, the Titan I ICBM launch complex (395-A1/A2/A3) at Vandenberg was turned over to the [[Strategic Air Command]] [[395th Strategic Missile Squadron]] to perform test launches of the missile.<ref name="Chronology"/>

However, the operational lifetime of the Titan I was short, as [[Robert McNamara|Secretary of Defense McNamara]] announced in November 1964 that all remaining first-generation ICBMs (Series E and F Atlas and Titan I) would be phased out (Project Added Effort) by the end of June 1965.<ref name="Chronology"/>

On 5 March 1965, the last test launch of a Titan I ICBM conducted by the Strategic Air Command at Vandenberg was successful. The 395th SMS performed 19 test launches between 1963 and 1965 before moving on to exclusively Titan II testing. During the 1980s, some Titan I second stages were used as targets for early [[Strategic Defense Initiative]] (SDI) testing.<ref name="Chronology"/>

====== LGM-25C Titan II ======
[[File:Titan2 color silo.jpg|thumb|upright|Titan II test launch from Vandenberg]]
The [[LGM-25C Titan II]] ICBM was a second-generation ICBM with storable propellants, all inertial guidance, and in-silo launch capability. Construction of the first Titan II site began in 1962, and eventually Vandenberg operated four Titan II launch complexes.<ref name="Vand Titan II Sites">{{cite web|url=http://www.techbastard.com/missile/titan2/silo/index.php|title=Titan II Missile Silo Coordinates |publisher=Techbastard.com|access-date=31 March 2013}}</ref><ref name="Chronology"/>

Most of the testing of the missile was done at [[Cape Canaveral Space Force Station|Cape Kennedy Air Force Station]], Florida by the [[6555th Aerospace Test Group]], and the first successful underground silo launch of a Titan II ICBM took place at Vandenberg by the 395th SMS in April 1963. The first fully operational test took place in March 1965.<ref name="Chronology"/>

On 25 March 1966, the 200th SAC missile launched from Vandenberg AFB, California was a Titan II. The operational testing of the Titan II continued until 1985.<ref name="Chronology"/> Like its predecessor the Atlas ICBM, the [[Titan II GLV]] a derivative of that missile was used to launch [[Project Gemini]] spacecraft and the [[Titan 23G]] was used as a space booster to launch satellites. The final launch of a Titan II was made in 2003 when the last Titan IIG was expended.<ref name="vafbhistory"/>

====== LGM-30 Minuteman ======
[[File:Minuteman3launch.jpg|thumb|upright|Minuteman 3 missile launch]]
The advent of solid-propellant gave the three-stage [[LGM-30 Minuteman]] ICBM a major advantage over earlier liquid propellant ICBMs. In February 1961, the construction began on Minuteman ICBM test launch facilities at Vandenberg. Silos 394A-1 through A-7 were the first constructed for use by the SAC [[394th Strategic Missile Squadron]].<ref name="Vandenberg Launch Sites">{{cite web |url=http://asuwlink.uwyo.edu/~jimkirk/vandenberg.html|title=Vandenberg Air Force Base Launch sites|website=asuwlink.uwyo.edu|access-date=31 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725161454/http://asuwlink.uwyo.edu/~jimkirk/vandenberg.html|archive-date=25 July 2012}}</ref><ref name="vafbhistory"/><ref name="Chronology"/>

[[LGM-30A Minuteman IA]] flight tests began in September 1962. The first Minuteman IB test took place in May 1963. On 24 February 1966, the first attempted salvo (simultaneous) launch of two model "A" Minuteman I ICBMs from Vandenberg silos LF-04 (394A-3) and LF-06 (394-A5) was successful. This launch demonstrated the multiple countdown and launch techniques that would be used at operational bases under actual combat conditions. Minuteman I testing continued until 1968.<ref name="Vandenberg Launch Sites"/><ref name="Chronology"/>

[[LGM-30F Minuteman II]] testing began in August 1965 with the first launch conducted by Air Force Systems Command, was successful. The missile flew {{cvt|5000|mi|km}} down the Pacific Missile Range and its reentry vehicle impacted in the target area.<ref name="Chronology"/>

On 22 October 1970, the first attempted OT GT70F (Salvo) operational test launch (simultaneous) launch of two Minuteman II ICBMs was successful from LF-25 and LF-26. The last Minuteman II phase I operational test was performed in April 1972.<ref name="Chronology"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/mineman2.htm|title=Minuteman II|publisher=Astronautix|access-date=31 March 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522183244/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/mineman2.htm|archive-date=22 May 2013}}</ref>

The first [[LGM-30G Minuteman III]] phase II operational test was launched on 5 December 1972 from the LF-02 silo. The ICBM flew {{cvt|800|mi|km}} downrange before impacting in the Pacific Ocean. This was the beginning of Minuteman III launches which continue to this day from Vandenberg.<ref name="Chronology"/>

In July 1974, the initial training of Minuteman missile combat crews, formerly performed by Air Training Command (ATC) instructors at Vandenberg AFB, California, was incorporated into the 4315th Combat Crew Training Squadron's Operational Readiness Training (ORT) program at Vandenberg. As a result of this action, the entire Minuteman missile combat training, from beginning (initial training) to end (upgrade training) became the responsibility of [[Strategic Air Command]].<ref name="Chronology"/>

SAC launched two Minuteman III ICBMs from Vandenberg AFB during exercise Global Shield, a comprehensive exercise of SAC's nuclear forces on 10 July 1979 from LF 08 and LF 09. One of these Global Shield missions, Glory Trip 40 GM, was the last Minuteman III phase I operational test flight. The missiles were launched 12 seconds apart by a SAC task force from the [[90th Strategic Missile Wing]], [[Francis E. Warren Air Force Base]], [[Wyoming]].<ref name="Chronology"/>

Glory Trip 77GM, a Minuteman III Operational Test in September 1980, became the longest Minuteman flight test when its payload impacted a broad ocean area target over {{cvt|5600|nmi|km}} downrange.<ref name="Chronology"/>

====== LGM-118 Peacekeeper ======
[[File:Peacekeeper missile.jpg|thumb|Test launch of LGM-118 Peacekeeper|241x241px]]
The last ICBM tested from Vandenberg was the [[LGM-118 Peacekeeper]] (MX) ICBM beginning in June 1983. In addition to having a longer range than earlier ICBMs, the Peacekeeper could deliver up to 10 reentry vehicles to separate targets.<ref name="vafbhistory"/> It was intended as a replacement for the [[LGM-30 Minuteman]], but it suffered from a long development time, and was retired in 2005 before the Minuteman because of arms reduction treaties.

The first Peacekeeper ICBM was launched by Air Force Systems Command from an above ground canister-type launch facility from Launch Complex TP-01 on 17 June 1983. This was the first "cold launch" of a missile at Vandenberg AFB, the missile reaching {{cvt|600|mi|km}} downrange. Two more test launches were conducted in 1983 from Launch Complex TP-01.<ref name="Chronology"/><ref name="Peacekeeper">{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/peaeeper.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006090340/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/peaeeper.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 October 2007|title=Martin Marietta LGM-118 Peacekeeper|publisher=Astronautix|access-date=31 March 2013}}</ref>

The first Peacekeeper with a Mark-21 test reentry vehicle was flight-tested from TP-01 on 15 June 1984. The Mark-21 resembled the reentry vehicle intended for the Peacekeeper weapon system. Two more test launches were conducted in 1984, the missile from TP-01. Air Force Systems Command conducted the final Peacekeeper launch from the above-ground TP-01 launch pad on 30 June 1985.<ref name="Chronology"/><ref name="Peacekeeper"/>

The first silo launch from LF-05 took place on 24 August 1985 from LF-08. LF-02 began to be used in 1986 for additional launches. On 23 August 1986 the first launch of a completely operational hardware configured missile and launch facility, and also the first Peacekeeper launch by a SAC combat crew under the control of Air Force Systems Command took place from silo LF-02.<ref name="Chronology"/><ref name="Peacekeeper"/>

A new Peacekeeper Missile Procedures Trainer was dedicated in March 1987. The US$17 million facility featured a state-of-the-art computer based simulator which would be used to train and evaluate missile crew members. The first LGM-118 Peacekeepers were deployed to [[Francis E. Warren Air Force Base]] in [[Wyoming]] that year.<ref name="Chronology"/><ref name="Peacekeeper"/> LGM-118 Peacekeeper test launches continued from Vandenberg with a third silo, LF-05 becoming operational in March 1990. The final launch of a LGM-118 Peacekeeper 33PA took place on 21 July 2004 before the missile was retired from service.<ref name="Chronology"/><ref name="Peacekeeper"/>

====== Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Interceptor ======
[[File:MDA interceptor on launch pad ift107.jpg|thumb|[[Ground-Based Midcourse Defense|Ground-based Midcourse Defense]] (GMD) interceptor in launch silo at Vandenberg|248x248px]]The latest missile deployed at Vandenberg in 2005 is the [[Ground-Based Midcourse Defense|Ground-based Interceptor]] (GBI) missile suborbital booster for the U.S. [[Missile Defense Agency]]'s Ground-based Midcourse Defense system's [[Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle|EKV]] ballistic missile kill vehicle. It is part of a [[National missile defense]] system advocated by President [[George W. Bush]]. The OBV is under development by [[Orbital Sciences Corporation|Orbital Sciences]]; for every interceptor missile there is a missile silo and a Silo Interface Vault (SIV), which is an underground electronics room adjacent to the silo.<ref name="vafbhistory"/> The basic OBV consists of the upper three stages and guidance system from the [[Minotaur-C|Taurus]] orbital launch vehicle (essentially a wingless [[Northrop Grumman Pegasus|Pegasus-XL]]). The developmental OBV is launched from an open pad; the operational version is to be silo-launched.<ref name="OBV">{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/obv.htm|title=OBV|publisher=Astronautix|date=15 December 2010|access-date=31 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522163218/http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/obv.htm|archive-date=22 May 2013}}</ref>

The first test firing of the OVB took place from former Atlas-F pad 576-E on 6 February 2003. Launch silo LF-23 is used for ongoing silo testing, with target missiles consisting of surplus inert Minuteman ICBM second and third stages being launched from the [[Kwajalein Atoll|Kwajalein Meck launch site]] in the [[Pacific Missile Range Facility|Pacific Range]].<ref name="OBV"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/sites/kwanmeck.htm|title=Kwajalein Meck launch site|publisher=Astronautix.com |access-date=31 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522221434/http://www.astronautix.com/sites/kwanmeck.htm |archive-date=22 May 2013 }}</ref>