[Launch Alert] San Nicolas Island and Offshore Ranges

[Launch Alert]

This is a follow-up to my postings about the missile-like object that was seen west of Los Angeles on Monday evening.

I said that San Nicolas Island is a known missile and rocket launch site and that NASA sounding rockets (scientific rockets) have apparently been launched on non-orbital flights from there in the past.

This is not totally correct. The latest information I have is that several launches have occured from the island over the past 50 years and most of these were sounding rockets launched for the Department of Defense. 

The same contractor who launches sounding rockets for NASA's scientific sounding rocket program also launches sounding rockets from San Nicolas Island to serve as targets for missile defense tests such as those involving the Missile Defense Agency's Airborne Laser (ABL).

However, there is no NASA involvement with the sounding rocket launches from the island.

Now let me turn the table and ask any aerospace historians and old-timers who may have been involved with the Point Mugu Sea Range and other California offshore ranges this question:

Where could I get a list or accurate historical data for the following?

   1. All rocket and missile launches from San Nicolas Island

   2. All rocket and missile launches from ships and submarines offshore of California

   3. All rocket and missile launches from Point Mugu on the mainland

   4. All air-drop launches or missiles from cargo planes offshore of California

I have a fairly good knowledge of the history of Vandenberg AFB launches, but I know little about what happens on the Point Mugu Sea Range and other range areas off the California coast.

Brian Webb