[Braak]

Loverly, And now, folks are saying there were no NOTAMS for the area. Yeah, this just gets curiouser and curiouser. OldMissileer says it looks to him like an SLBN, but isn't the holy grail of any missile test the flight telemetry? And wouldn't a test by a foreign power off our coast expose such telemetry? Yep, we know the various test range equipment was cold when the launch occurred, but how fast was it powered up? Can it be turned on in a hurry?

In short, the fact there was civil traffic in the area means it wasn't a US entity that fired whatever the hell that was. It's the only explanation. No responsible US entity would have failed to file a NOTAM with the FAA before a shot, simply because aircraft in the area are just too risky...so, it was either a irresponsible US entity...which makes me wonder what idiot did this...or a foreign entity, which makes me rather concerned the Chinese did just send us a message, the Norks can't do this, neither can Iran. So who does that leave?

[RC Clayton]

Only China and Russia to the best of my knowledge.

[HKMk23]

...folks are saying there were no NOTAMS for the area.

Yeah, well, that just goes to show ya not ta always believe what "folks are saying." HERE'S your supposedly-nonexistent NOTAM, for the LA area. Note especially the effective dates, and how they nicely bracket the time this "mysterious object" appeared in the sky: 14:30 NOV 8 until 19:30 NOV 10.

KZLA   LOS ANGELES

11/009 - AIRSPACE UNMANNED ACFT 5 NMR VCV 5400/BLW AVOIDANCE
 ADZD 1430-1930 DLY. 08 NOV 14:30 2010 UNTIL 10 NOV 19:30 2010. CREATED: 05
NOV 16:54 2010

[Riley]

And wouldn't a test by a foreign power off our coast expose such telemetry?

Good point- but we'd need to know a lot of details in the telemetry collection process that might not be publicly available. Namely, are we always watching with automated systems- or do stations need to be manned, equipment powered up and directed correctly, recording equipment set up, and so forth?

[Gondring]

Here's the track of US Airways Flight 808 from Honolulu to Phoenix, right through the area on the 8th (NOTAMS? What NOTAMS?):

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AWE808/history/20101108/1955Z/PHNL/KPHX/tracklog
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AWE808/history/20101108/1955Z/PHNL/KPHX
(You can zoom in and put the aviation charts on as an underlay.)

I bet not a single passenger on that jet reported a missile whooshing by them as they passed through that area right as the helicopter was filming.