Scud Missile Launch From California Planned For Midday

Santa Maria Times ^ | November 14, 2002

[Shermy]

VANDENBERG AFB -- A symbol of Operation Desert Storm will fly from Vandenberg Air Force Base today as the U.S. military aims to learn more about Scud missiles.

The Scud missile will launch between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today, according to Maj. Stacee Bako, a Vandenberg Air Force Base spokeswoman. Officials didn't announce the launch date until Wednesday afternoon.

The test is one of two Scud missile launches planned by the Missile Defense Agency before the end of the year under a $13 million program dubbed "Operation Blue Velvet."

The weapon, similar to those fired by Iraq during Operation Desert Storm, will blast off from an above-ground launcher on North Base, where other ballistic missiles are regularly tested from underground silos.

Weather doesn't look very accommodating, with officials saying there's an 80 percent chance conditions will prevent liftoff. Cloud cover is the main concern.

Military officials want to collect data on the weapon for the development of the next-generation Patriot missile, used to defend against Scud missiles during Operation Desert Storm.

Equipment on the ground and on the weapon will send back reams of data on the missile's performance.

The weapon is expected to travel about 180 miles west of the base and end somewhere over the ocean.

Typically, tests involving missiles that travel shorter distances occur over land at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.

"Vandenberg has a lot more range assets than White Sands does for that kind of missile," said Lt. Col. Richard Lehner, a Missile Defense Agency spokesman.

* Staff writer Janene Scully can be reached at (805) 739-2214 or by e-mail at janscully@ pulitzer.net.

November 14, 2002

[blackdog]

This is the type of exercise that is reported as a failure no matter how successful. When mature people run the country, they place our safety and national interest above their own pride. Reported military failures only keep the technology of our enemies at a relatively low-tech level. The first time a real kewl new weapon makes the news is when it scares the living hell out of an enemy who got to be the first victim.

On a separate issue, I am anxiously awaiting the Super-Geraldo just after Thanksgiving. I have been in touch with his shrink. She says he is being kept on a constant regemine of thorazine and sex surrogates in order to keep him human. He's got pix of Saddam and weapons of mass destruction all over his house just like in "A Beautiful Mind". He's been receiving his secret coded messages at his secret drop location and gets special briefing from Rumsfeld while he is in REM stage at night. Geraldo has also been spotted purchasing new desert camo and oily smoke warfare clothing and new sidearm in North Jesey. He was spotted by several Garden State Parkway employees driving his Lexus at night with the headlights off and using his night vision goggles.

Yes folks, Super-Geraldo is coming just in time for those holiday blues. Best entertainment one can get.

[DoughtyOne]

Isla Vista is just north of Santa Barbara.

[Poohbah]

The weapon is expected to travel about 180 miles west of the base and end somewhere over the ocean.

That's going to be a neat trick.

Given the Scud's rather...prodigious, shall we say, Circular Error Probable, there is a very good chance that they'll miss.

[blackdog]

I have not powered up the LORAN in my plane for quite some time. Is the system still operating? I thought it was to be off line in 2001?

[Poohbah]

LORAN still operates, but an undetected Y2K bug in the system makes your airplane fly upside down and backwards when you turn it on :o)

[ApesForEvolution]

In protest I'm sure!

[Fudd]

there is a very good chance that they'll miss...

And the rat's will be calling it an assassination when it lands on Nancy Pelosi (whatever her name is) in a freak accident.

[DoughtyOne]

You can right click, view to see this in it's full format. (above photo)

 

[blackdog]

I loved it and used to rely on it too much. There are some very nasty neverland scant coverage areas I discovered. I used to use it to fly an NDB approach into Rock Hill in the wee hours of the AM. I used to leave it on all the time because Northstar had a great database that gave good warning prompts for position(when in a good coverage area)It was much better than a good ADF though.

The GPS I use now has me spoiled. Someday it will embarass me when it goes out and I have no clue where I am.

[DoughtyOne]

The earlier version were pretty bad, point and hope. I believe Iraq has an updated model that is far more accurate today, and who's range is something like 900 miles. What's you take on that?

[blackdog]

Remember the Russian dairy cow that drpped from 30,000 feet and snapped a Japanese commercial fishing boat in two?

[blackdog]

Increased range is a good thing. A 1/2 of 1 degree error at 500 miles is still in Israel. The same error factor at 900 miles will have them landing in just about every country but Israel. Increased capability demands increased responsibility. Saddam firing off SCUDS from 900 miles away is not exactly what would make him a celebrity in the Arab world.

[DoughtyOne]

Luckily the cow wasn't hurt. Okay... just kidding.

[b4its2late]

No, I don't. What the heck were the Ruskies trying to do by dropping a cow from 30,000 feet, see if they could get milk that would get you high?

[DoughtyOne]

I suspect they're more accurate as well. Your point about the surrounding Arab states is a good one though. They may not act like it, but I suspect his neighbors aren't all that fond of Saddam.

[advocate10]

I used to live in Lompoc, CA about 15 miles from the launch areas. There were so many missiles of various types fired, mostly Minuteman, that nobody payed much attention unless one exploded.

Vandenberg AFB is rattlesnake HQ. When a missile exploded, I'm sure the resulting grass fires killed more snakes than the missiles will likely kill people.

[blackdog]

A couple of cargo pilots who had not been paid in months were taxiing down a runway next to a state dairy farm. There were a bunch of cows in the field and knowing they were destined for Japan and the price of beef there, they popped the big ramp on the Antinov and stole o'l bessie and made a quick departure. The only problem was that the cow started freakin out pissing and crapping all over the cargo section. The pilot sent the co-pilot to the back and Bessie escaped out the back at the first sign of daylight. The pilots thought the whole thing was over.

A short time later a Japanese freighter captain was being prosecuted for claiming a large cow fell from the sky and sunk his boat in less than one minute. The Russian pilots got in touch with the Japanese court and admitted they dropped altitude to an unpressurized level and tossed a large dairy cow out of the plane in the same area the freighter sunk!!!!

[sam_paine]

This can be a rough and tumple forum at times, but I didn't think he was out of line. Now, as for you... LMRO

I had started another paragraph complaining how harsh this place had become because of people....like me! So I realized the irony and stopped while I was behind. Now if I could just get ever'buddy to stop kornfusing "loose" with "lose," I'd be happy.

[DoughtyOne]

I think that's also a loosing proposition, but I'm willing to turn you lose on them. Hanging my head in shame as I rotflmro... I'm guilty of some similar mistakes at times. I'll try to paddle faster.

Thanks bud.