VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Vandenberg members gather following the recent launch of an unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (GT-255) launch during a patching ceremony at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., March 5, 2026. The tradition commemorates Vandenberg's launches and highlights the team that enabled the mission. This ICBM test launch, designated Glory Trip 255, was scheduled years ago, and is not in response to world events.
U.S. Space Force Col. James T. Horne III, Space Launch Delta 30 commander, highlighted “it takes the whole base to conduct a launch,” and honored Vandenberg’s Chaplain team as a contributor to the base’s morale and readiness. Horne gave thanks to Team Vandenberg for their coordinated efforts in working on the unarmed ICBM test launch, emphasizing the importance of team cohesion to accomplish the mission. A patch frame was placed on the Pacific Coast Center heritage room wall during the ceremony.
The purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to validate and verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the weapon system, according to AFGSC.