Spacex News – Unarmed Minuteman III test missile launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base | Vandenberg Air Force Base
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched Tuesday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in an operational test.
The missile was launched shortly before midnight with an aim to “validate and verify the safety, security, effectiveness and readiness” of the weapon system, according to the 30th Space Wing Public Affairs.
Col. Joseph Tringe, a 30th Space Wing individual mobilization augmentee, or reservist, to the commander was decision authority for the launch, which is the first of the year. Minuteman III launch tests are conducted periodically from the base to ensure readiness.
“This first launch of the year demonstrates our ability to provide safe, secure range operations to our launch partners while maintaining a continuous state of readiness,” Tringe said. “The outstanding teamwork of the airmen and guardians here at Vandenberg is a true testament to the future of space operations on the Western Range and our ability to defend the United States and our allies.”
An Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launches during an operational test at 11:49 p.m. Tuesday at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The 576th Test Flight Squadron, which is based at VAFB and is a unit of the Air Force’s Global Strike Command, conducted the launch.
The Global Strike Command, which is based in Barksdale Air Force Base near Bossier City, Louisiana, manages the nations 400 ICBMs and 60 bombers, which account for most of the nation’s nuclear arsenal, according to the Department of Defense.
The missile delivered a test reentry vehicle 4,200 miles west to the Kwajalein Atoll, which is located in the Marshall Islands and is used as an ICBM range by the U.S. military.
Data from the tests are used to ensure that Minuteman III missiles are “safe, secure and effective” nuclear deterrents for national security purposes, according Lt. Gen. Anthony Cotton, deputy commander of the Global Strike Command, who added that launches are not responses or reactions to world events.
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich mission lifts off from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Nov. 21. In the foreground, spectators watch from a park in Vandenberg Village.
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Spectators in Vandenberg Village shield their eyes from the sun as they watch the launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Saturday morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
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The first-stage booster from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket returns to land at Vandenberg Air Force Base after carrying the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite toward orbit on Nov. 21.
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Starman poses for pictures with other astronaut spectators in a Vandenberg Village park before the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite lifts off from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Nov. 21.
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Jared Head, of Downey, lines up a picture of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as he waits for liftoff in a Vandenberg Village park Saturday morning.
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An airplane flies by as the first-stage booster from a SpaceX Falcon 9 returns to land at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Saturday morning.
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Spectators in Vandenberg Village watch Saturday morning as the first-stage booster from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket returns to Vandenberg Air Force Base.
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Spectators in Vandenberg Village watch the Saturday morning launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the NASA-ESA Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite into orbit to study the surface heights of the Earth’s oceans.
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Spectators in Vandenberg Village watch the Saturday morning launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
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Spectators in Vandenberg Village watch the liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Saturday morning to carry the NASA-ESA Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite into orbit.
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off Saturday morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base to carry the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite into orbit to study the Earth’s oceans.
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Spectators in Vandenberg Village watch the Saturday morning launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite.
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This screen capture from today’s NASA stream of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base shows the SpaceX rocket on its descent back to earth after the launch. The rocket would land back on Vandenberg Air Force Base minutes after launch.
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A screen capture from today’s NASA stream of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base shows the first stage booster returning to a picture-perfect landing next to the launch pad minutes after liftoff.
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A screen capture from today’s NASA stream of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base shows the view back toward Earth from rocket.
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A screen capture from today’s NASA stream of the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite as the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket following its launch from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
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This screen capture from today’s NASA stream of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base shows the rocket on the pad before launch.
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A screen capture from today’s NASA live stream shows the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite awaiting launch from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
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The capsule containing the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite sits atop the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base in this screen capture from today’s NASA stream of the launch.
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This screen capture from today’s NASA stream of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base shows the rocket on the pad before launch.
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This screen capture from today’s NASA stream of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base shows the rocket makes its way to space after launch.
Spacex News – Unarmed Minuteman III test missile launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base | Vandenberg Air Force Base
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