LAUNCH ALERT
Brian Webb
Ventura County, California
kd6nrp at earthlink.net
http://www.spacearchive.info
2008 August 11 (Monday) 16:49 PDT
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MINUTEMAN III LAUNCH SCHEDULED
Vandenberg AFB News Release
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – An unarmed Minuteman III
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) configured with three joint
test assemblies, is scheduled to launch from North Vandenberg
Wednesday, August 13 as an operational test to determine the weapon
system’s reliability and accuracy. The six-hour launch window is from
1:01 a.m. to 7:01 a.m.
The missile will launch under the direction of the 576th Flight Test
Squadron. Operational tasks were conducted by maintenance and
operations task force personnel from the 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom
AFB, MT. Members of the 576th FLTS installed tracking, telemetry and
command destruct systems on the missile to collect data and meet
safety requirements. “An objective of testing is to ensure we test in
as operationally realistic environment as possible” said Lt Col Toler.
“Having maintenance and operations personnel from Malmstrom, Minot or
F.E. Warren perform operational tasks takes us one step closer to that
goal”, she said.
The missile's three unarmed re-entry vehicles are expected to travel
approximately 4,190 miles, hitting pre-determined targets near the
Kwajalein Atoll.
Col. David J. Buck, 30th Space Wing commander, is the spacelift
commander for this mission. Lt. Col. Lesa K. Toler, 576th FLTS
commander, is the mission director.
The entire ICBM community, including the Department of Defense and the
Department of Energy, will use the data collected from this mission
for continuing force development evaluation.
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LAUNCH NOTES
Following first stage ignition, the Minuteman III will quickly exit
its underground silo near the beach, climb vertically for a few
seconds, and abruptly turn west toward the central Pacific. The
vehicle will then follow an arc-shaped trajectory.
Weather permitting, Wednesday morning's launch should be visible to
the naked eye for a least 200 miles. For detailed information on
viewing Vandenberg AFB rocket and missile launches, go to:
http://www.spacearchive.vafbview.htm
Because this launch involves a strategic weapon system, countdown
status and audio will probably not be available to the general public.
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Copyright © 2008 Brian Webb. All rights reserved. This newsletter may
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