[Strategerist]

Some successful tests in the same area conducted earlier this year:

Backgrounder Boeing Defense, Space & Security P.O. Box 516 St. Louis, MO 63166 www.boeing.com Airborne Laser Test Bed

...According to MDA, the experiment began at 8:44 pm Pacific Standard Time when “a short-range threat-representative ballistic missile was launched from an at-sea mobile launch platform.

...During the experiment, the aircraft took off from Edwards Air Force Base and focused its high-energy laser at the missile target during its boost phase as the aircraft flew over the Western Sea Range off the coast of California.

...Eight days earlier, on Feb. 3, 2010, ALTB completed its first intercept of an airborne target by destroying a Terrier Black Brant sounding (research) rocket launched from the ground on San Nicolas Island, Calif.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

That is some good strategery.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

If it was launched by the Navy from San Nicholas island, 65 miles offshore vs. 35 as estimated by the news team, the line of sight and perspective of the ascent would be about spot on, i.e., appearing just to the northwest of Catalina. If the launch was from a "mystery" source in the channel between San Nicholas and Catalina, it would still have been easily visible and source tracked by by the military on San Nicholas.