VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Vandenberg members gather following the recent launch of an unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile during a patching ceremony at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., May 21, 2026. The tradition commemorates Vandenberg's launches and highlights the team that enabled the mission.
Lt. Col. Ralph Salazar, 2nd Range Operations Squadron commander, gave the ceremonial game ball to U.S. Space Force Col. Dorian Hatcher, Space Launch Delta 30 deputy commander for operations, who is departing from Vandenberg for a new assignment.
The 2 ROPS squadron provides mission integration and launch operations support to new and existing launch service providers to enable effective planning and launch execution. The 576th FLTS is America's only dedicated ICBM test squadron professionally executing tests that accurately measure the current and future capability of the ICBM force.
This ICBM test launch, designated Glory Trip 256, was scheduled years ago, and is not in response to world events.