Posted on 01/27/2010 3:43:35 AM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The U.S. Air Force test program for its Minuteman III ICBMs has been interrupted by a "mechanical problem" that will delay the next test seven months. The missile, selected at random from those stored in Midwest silos, was brought to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, placed in a silo there, and readied for firing into the Pacific. But during the installation of the missile in the silo, a problem was encountered. The air force won't say what exactly the problems is, or if it is something common to other Minuteman missiles. This kind of testing is not as realistic as what the Russians do, which is to just pick a missile at random, remove the nuclear warhead and replace it with one full of monitoring and radio equipment, and then fire it. The U.S. can't do that because American silos are surrounded by inhabited areas. Thus if the missile ran into trouble, and had to be destroyed (all such missiles are equipped with explosives for this, that can be set off by remote control), the debris could come down on people. The Russian silos are in more isolated areas, and Russians are more tolerant of their government showering them with missile debris.
American ICBM tests are different in other ways. For example, a test three years ago was unique because for the first time, the test silo had the 105 ton doors closed, and then blown open just before launch. Repairing the doors is expensive, so the doors are usually kept open during preparations for the test, and plastic sheeting spread over the open silo to keep rain out. But a previous test was screwed up by a heavy rain, that flooded, and damaged, the silo despite the plastic sheeting.
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
Drat - and we need those nukes to protect “our precious bodily fluids....”
Maybe squirrels had filled up the tube with nuts...
” Russians are more tolerant of their government showering them with missile debris”
weather forecast comrades, chilly this morning, -35 and blustery, tonight, 30% chance of scattered s-19, so wear your mittens.
Should we really be sharing this info with the world?
That’s my question.
What is this information doing out here in the world?
Do we have any security left in this country?
“What is this information doing out here in the world?”
I believe the reporter likely was simply trying to scoop Joe Biden in getting this Top Secret/Compartmented information for the entire world to hear...
It was around 2000/2001 when they launched one from Vandeburg, and the contrail went up so high it turned rainbow colors as it left the ionosphere (or the other -sphere, I forget).
The thing that inspired my awe was that Vandenburg was at least 200 miles to the south of my locale in San Jose. Millions of people could have seen it had they only looked up.
FE Warren AFB is about a 10 minute drive from Cheyanne,Wyoming next to Flight A.
FE Warren AFB is about a 10 minute drive from Cheyanne,Wyomin next to Flight A.Flight A surrounds the town of Midway, Wyoming. The missiles surrounding Moscow is their ABM system
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