In this Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010 photo released by the U.S. Air Force, a Minotaur 4 rocket carrying the Space Based Space Surveillance satellite blasts off and heads toward orbit at 9:41 p.m., at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.  The satellite is designed to detect and monitor debris, satellites and other space objects that could be a threat to national security, communications and weather satellites.  <span class=meta>(AP Photo&#47; Senior Airman Andrew Lee)</span>