Ascension Island Green Way

To photograph a mechanic in an engine took 1 Nikon D3 digital camera body, a 14 mm ultra wide lens, one big engine, 1 wireless flash controller,1 off-camera TTL cord, 3 wirelessly controlled flashes, "gorilla pod," "magic arm," "Super Clamp" and lots of twisting and turning of head, neck and shoulders at the power production facility of the 45th Operations Group, Detachment 2, at Ascension Auxiliary Airfield (AAF), South Atlantic Ocean on June 27, 2009. To get the blue light behind Mr. Damien Cuello the digital camera was set for (orange) tungsten light. This made the camera extra sensitive to blue. The light in the foreground was filtered with a orange filter to achieve a more natural white light source. A soft box was used in the foreground for a broad light source that threw light into the corners and curves inside the engine. Using ISO 800, f/9 aperture and 1/60 of a second shutter speed a mysterious look inside an engine was created. Photographer entered through the third port from the left and subject entered from the second port from the right. On this day Mr. Ceullo was working on another engine, but mentioned that after that he was going to work on this engine. While he worked on the first one, preparations and tests were made for his arrival. When the time came, he began work and photos were taken. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Remote base uses natural energy to power facilities

Several rows of solar panels provide power for the runway lights at Ascension Auxiliary Airfield, a small base belonging to the 45th Space Wing. The base, located on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean, has earned several awards for its energy conservation initiatives. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Ascension Island Green Way

Mr. Damien Cuello with his head and shoulder inside the cleaned crankcase of a V-12 Mitsubishi S12U turbocharged diesel engine he can better see in the piston, connecting rod, and counterweight assembly he has to work on at the power production facility of the 45th Operations Group, Detachment 2, at Ascension Auxiliary Airfield (AAF), South Atlantic Ocean on June 27, 2009. The bore and stroke of this engine is 10 1/4 inch X 9 1/2 inch. Each piston and connecting rod assembly weighs 175 pounds. They are connected to a 3,500 pound crankshaft. Compared to automobiles, this is many times bigger. The engine drives a 1900kW generator that supplies power to the electrical grid for the airfield, Space Command sites and facilities, and a royal air force airfield facility on the island. Mr. Cuello is a Computer Sciences Raytheon contract associate in charge of maintenance for 6 wind turbines and 5 diesel generators. Wind turbines, that also feed the electrical grid, were designed to work in parallel with the diesel generators to form a hybrid power production solution. The wind turbines lower the load on the engines, extend their life cycle and lower emissions. Ascension AAF's award winning economical self-sufficiency solutions also includes drinking water production and waste water treatment. The mission of Det. 2 is support of eastern range space launches by collecting and disseminating radar, telemetry and tracking data. Ascension island is 35 square miles in a remote location midway between Brazil and Angola. The nearest country is Liberia - 1000 miles away. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Ascension Island Green Way

On rugged lave rock terrain these four 225 kW wind turbines are the first phase of a six turbine site of the 45th Operations Group, Detachment 2, at Ascension Auxiliary Airfield (AAF), South Atlantic Ocean. Behind them, one of the facilities they help power, the TAA-3C-1 and TAA-3C-2 telemetry systems on South Gannett Hill on June 28, 2009. The wind turbines work in parallel with low-load diesel generators powering the airfield, Space Command sites and facilities, and a royal air force airfield facility on the island. Ascension AAF's award winning economical self-sufficiency solutions also includes drinking water production and waste water treatment. "It is exciting to see this base operate in a "green" environment day-to-day. It is cost effective and at the same time, protects our environment without interfering with any of our various missions down here. Going "green" has actually helped us become more efficient providing power, and water to the air field and the base" said Major Jay Block, detachment commander. The mission of Det. 2 is support of eastern range space launches by collecting and disseminating radar, telemetry and tracking data. Ascension island is 35 square miles in a remote location midway between Brazil and Angola. The nearest country is Liberia - 1000 miles away. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Win with Wind

Solar water heating panels are another of the energy conservation / passive "green" technologies in use by the 45th Operations Group Detachment 2, Ascension Auxiliary Airfield (AAF), South Atlantic Ocean. Ascension AAF's award winning economical self-sufficiency solutions also includes drinking water production and waste water treatment, hybrid wind turbine/diesel generator power production. The mission of Det. 2 is support of eastern range space launches by collecting and disseminating radar, telemetry and tracking data. Ascension island is 35 square miles in a remote location midway between Brazil and Angola. The nearest country is Liberia - 1000 miles away. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lance Cheung)

Space operations vital to Air Force, nation

Air Force officials discussed the importance of space as a warfighting domain before members of the Senate May 20 on Capitol Hill. (U.S. Air Force illustration)