THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Aboard USS Carl Vinson, July 30, 2009

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 28, 2009) Aerographer's Mate 1st Class Jim Neurohr releases a weather balloon off of the aft end of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). The balloon is used to take atmospheric readings. Carl Vinson is underway in the Atlantic Ocean for carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joel Carlson.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 11, 2009) The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) performs high-speed turns during the rudder check phase and sea trials certification. Carl Vinson is now working towards a flight deck certification. While at sea, the ship will launch and recover aircraft for the first time in nearly four and a half years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Justin Stumberg.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 10, 2009) Quartermaster 2nd Class Leeann Sokolis attaches the ensign in preparation for shifting colors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) before departing Norfolk for sea trials and flight deck certification. While at sea, the ship will launch and recover aircraft for the first time in nearly four and a half years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Johnson.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 20, 2009) Commander, U.S. Second Fleet, Vice Adm. Mel Williams Jr. speaks to Lt. j.g. Byron Stocks aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson's (CVN 70) Navigation Bridge as Stocks stands watch as the Officer of the Deck. Carl Vinson is at sea conducting flight deck certification. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Nistas.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 15, 2009) An F/A-18E Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting flight deck certification after completing its scheduled refueling complex overhaul at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. The overhaul was an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the mid-point of their 50-year life cycle. Carl Vinson's nuclear fuel was replenished and the ship's services and infrastructure upgraded to make her the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen Rowe.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 15, 2009) F/A-18 Super Hornets wait to taxi to their catapult for launch from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting flight deck certification after completing its scheduled refueling complex overhaul at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. The overhaul was an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the mid-point of their 50-year life cycle. Carl Vinson's nuclear fuel was replenished and the ship's services and infrastructure upgraded to make her the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen Rowe.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 16, 2009) Boatswain's Mate Seaman Austin Romero, middle, steers USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as helmsman while Boatswain's Mate Seaman Reginald Thorton, left, and Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Jonathan Beesley man the helm. Carl Vinson is undergoing flight deck certification and is launching and recovering aircraft for the first time in the past four and a half years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Nistas.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 27, 2009) Sailors assigned to the weapons department of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) carry a BDU-45 inert bomb to the bomb table for dis-assembly. Carl Vinson is currently at sea conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Johnson.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 14, 2009) Storekeeper Seaman Frankie A. Burgos defends against Engineman 3rd Class Hakim Briley during a pick-up basketball game in Hangar Bay 2 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Basketball is part of a regular sports schedule sponsored by the Moral, Welfare, and Recreation department aboard the ship. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Justin Stumberg.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 10, 2009) An SH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) while departing Norfolk for flight deck certification. While at sea, the ship will launch and recover aircraft for the first time in nearly four and a half years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Johnson.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 26, 2009) Operations Specialist 3rd Class Milton Bobbitt, assigned to the operations department of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), plots surface contacts to make sure they don't pose any collision dangers for the carrier. Carl Vinson is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Nistas.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 15, 2009) An aircraft director guides an F/A-18 Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA 34) to the No. 2 catapult aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. Carl Vinson is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting flight deck certification after completing its scheduled refueling complex overhaul at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. The overhaul was an extensive yard period that all Nimitz-class aircraft carriers go through near the mid-point of their 50-year life cycle. Carl Vinson's nuclear fuel was replenished and the ship's services and infrastructure upgraded to make her the most state-of-the-art aircraft carrier in the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephen Rowe.)