[CPEO-MEF] Minuteman III Shot from Vandenburg to Kwajalein, Marshalls

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

California
YOKWE ONLINE
Minuteman III Shot from Vandenburg to Kwajalein, Marshalls
Kwajalein, Marshall Islands makes another "catch" for US missile program

August 7, 2003

An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICMB) was
launched from California at 2:06 a.m. Wednesday toward its Kwajalein
Missile Range target, in the western Marshall Islands. The Boeing
Company-made, 60-foot missile's three unarmed re-entry vehicles was to
travel approximately 4,200 miles from Vandenburg Air Force Base to the
Kwajalein Range in about 30 minutes, according to the US Department of
Defense.

Nicknamed "the world's largest catcher's mitt," the Kwajalein lagoon is
the target and splashdown point for the (ICBMs) fired from Vandenburg.
These tests, which largely take place at night, light up the sky in the
Marshalls with a spectacular display of explosions, burning debris and
sonic booms, as described by the new Kwajalein.org website sponsored by
the Marshallese landowners of Kwajalein Atoll.


http://www.kwajalein.org/ - Kwaj missile range history, Compact issues,
KNC viewpoints

http://www.acq.osd.mil/bmdo - US Missile Defense Agency news & info
page.

Some of Kwajalein’s islands are leased to the U.S. by the landowners
through the Government of the Marshall Islands for the use of what is
now known as the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, and
are under the control of the U.S. Department of Defense. Kwajalein Atoll
ranks number one out of twenty-one missile test ranges of the U.S., and
is the only site with a testing range measured in thousands of miles.

The US Missile Defense Agency is planning to extend its test range
capability to provide more realistic flight testing of the GMD system,
in which the Kwajalein Missile Range will play a prominent role.
Kwajalein is also one of six possible home sites for a new 25-story-tall
radar dome and platform. Assessments of the proposed Sea-Based X-Band
Radar and new Ground-Base program were included in an environmental
impact statement released by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency last week.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.yokwe.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=522&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CPEO: A DECADE OF SUCCESS.  Your generous support will ensure that our 
important work on military and environmental issues will continue.  
Please consider one of our donation options.  Thank you.
http://www.groundspring.org/donate/index.cfm?ID=2086-0|721-0