Posted on 12/09/2015 5:30:44 PM PST by Enlightened1
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- An early morning missile test over a remote part of New Mexico is expected to produce a contrail that will be visible across the Southwest on Thursday, and authorities says they're preparing for a flood of phone calls and emails from curious onlookers.
The unarmed Juno target missile will be launched between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. MST from an old military depot in western New Mexico. The destination is White Sands Missile Range, some 215 miles away.
On its way to White Sands, the missile will drop a booster into a safety zone on private and national forest land north of Datil, New Mexico. Roadblocks have been set up in the area.
A similar launch in 2012 created a buzz when reports flooded in about a colorful contrail that was visible from southern Colorado west to Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
This time, officials are sharing information about the launch with communities as far away as Palm Springs, California.
It's the contrail that causes the commotion.
"It's hard to describe, but it's very unusual so that's why we get the calls," White Sands spokeswoman Cammy Montoya said Wednesday. "People want to know: What happened, is it a UFO, what's going on?"
How spectacular the show will be depends on the conditions at the time of the launch. For example, the rising sun has to illuminate the twisting cloud-like formation in just the right way. Then the amount of crystallization of water vapor in the atmosphere is another factor that can affect color.
The contrail could last up to 45 minutes, but officials say that also depends on atmospheric conditions.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
Bookmark for easy access to post when crazies come out after the commie missile launch is reported.
I saw a previous missile test from Phoenix, right at dawn when the sunlight highlighted it. Worth a look.
Sunrise tomorrow is at 7:21a.
What is a “Juno target missile”?
The Juno is an older MRBM long ago retired from active service. It is most likely being used as a target for a Patriot (or similar ABM) intercept at White Sands.
Some people are going to call it in as a U-eFfing-O!
We’re ramping up our missile defense tests because global tensions are much worse than what has been reported.
We’re going to need lots and lots of interceptions in a few months or so.
Israel tests missile interceptor today: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/israel-test-launches-arr/2335470.html
Wow! The Arrow interceptor has gone exo-amtospheric!
Yes. Israel has 24 of the Arrow 3 interceptors on active duty today.
Interestingly enough, as they build more, they can be used for anti-satellite interception as well as new satellite placement, should orbiting a new bird be urgent.
Another nuclear weapons delivery test: http://freebeacon.com/national-security/china-tests-new-icbm-from-railroad-car/
Watch the Next News Network and you’ll find out about news like this and more.
https://www.youtube.com/user/NextNewsNetwork
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