[Launch Alert] Vandenberg Launches Ground-based Interceptor

[Brian Webb]

VANDENBERG LAUNCHES GROUND-BASED INTERCEPTOR

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 30th Space Wing and Missile Defense

Agency launched a ground-based interceptor at 3:25 p.m. June 6 from North 
Vandenberg. The launch was a flight test for a two-stage variant of the 
operationally-configured three-stage interceptor now deployed at Vandenberg 
AFB.

The test was solely for data collection purposes and system performance 
evaluation. There was no target launch or intercept attempt for this
mission.

"Executing a successful launch like this requires a great deal of work from 
many people in various organizations and Team Vandenberg performed 
magnificently," said Col. Richard Boltz, 30th Space Wing commander and
Launch 
Decision Authority for today's launch.

This launch was Col. Boltz's first as wing commander; however, the 22-year 
career Air Force officer is no stranger to the spacelift mission, having 
previously served at Vandenberg as a mission flight control officer in the
mid 
1990's.

"It's great to be back in the launch business after being away from it for
15 
years."

This was the first missile defense program launch from Vandenberg AFB's
Launch 
Facility 24, which was recently upgraded to support missile defense testing.

Previous interceptor launches have been conducted at nearby Launch Facility 
23.