First replacement

In the narrow space between the top of the launcher closure door and thrust nozzles of a suspended Minuteman III, Staff Sgts. Jordan Hatch and Dean Phelan, 341st Maintenance Squadron technicians, remove tie-downs to lower the missile into launch facility Hotel-02 April 16, 2001, during the first booster replacement at Malmstrom. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Turner)

First replacement

From inside a payload transporter van during the first booster replacement at Malmstrom April 16, 2001, Airman 1st Class Roger Ridley, 341st Maintenance Squadron, lowers a missile guidance set onto the booster in launch facility Hotel-02 below. (U.S. Air Force photo/John Turner)

Japan Broadcasting Corporation visit

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Staff Sgt. Jason Keen (center left), a Missile Maintenance Team Instructor from the 91st Missile Operations Squadron, shows Ms. Noriko Kudo, a Bureau Chief from the Japan Broadcasting Corporation based in Los Angeles, the silo entry hatch during a top side tour of Uniform One here August 4, 2009. Ms. Kudo and two of her colleagues visited various areas on base to become familiarized with the nuclear reinvigoration process and tell the Minot Air Force base story to their viewer’s audience. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Linda C. Miller)

Vandenberg officials launch Minuteman III missile

A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launches at 1 a.m. Nov. 5 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The missile was configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly in which a single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,190 miles to their pre-determined targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. (U.S. Air Force photo/Joe Davila)

LGM-30G Minuteman III

The LGM-30G Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is an element of the nation’s strategic deterrent forces. The "L" in LGM is the Department of Defense designation for silo-launched; "G" means surface attack; and "M" stands for guided missile.

Missile maintenance

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- A Malmstrom missile maintenance team removes the upper section of an ICBM at a Montana missile site. The section was picked at random for a "glory trip," or a test launch, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., in August. The launch allows Malmstrom and Vandenberg officials to observe a launch to gather data on the weapon system's performance, accuracy and reliability. To prepare for the test launch, the missile maintenance team removed the payload shroud, missile guidance set and propulsion system rocket engine. The booster is coming from Hill AFB, Utah. The ICBM parts from Malmstrom and the booster from Hill will be reassembled at Vandenberg. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman John Parie)