Missile Defense Test Is A Bust | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.29.24

Airborne-NextGen-04.30.24

 Airborne-Unlimited-05.01.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers--05.02.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.03.24

Thu, Dec 16, 2004

Missile Defense Test Is A Bust

Interceptor Failed To Launch

The first full-blown test of the missile shield in almost two years fizzled on the pad Wednesday when the interceptor rocket shut itself down just prior to launch. That could spell setback for plans to deploy an early version of the missile defense by the end of the year.

"This is a serious setback for a program that had not attempted a flight intercept test for two years," said Philip Coyle, the Pentagon's chief weapons tester under President Ronald Reagan, in an e-mail exchange with Reuters.

In announcing his plan for a missile defense in 2002, President Bush said a rudimentary version of the system would be operational by the end of this year, even as the military continued its development. But Wednesday morning's "anomaly" automatically shut down the interceptor while it was still in its silo on Kwajalien Atoll in the Pacific.

The last test, in December, 2002, also ended in failure when the 120-pound kill vehicle failed to part from its booster rocket.

FMI: www.acq.osd.mil/mda/mdalink/html/mdalink.html

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.01.24): Say Altitude

Say Altitude Used by ATC to ascertain an aircraft's specific altitude/flight level. When the aircraft is climbing or descending, the pilot should state the indicated altitude round>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.01.24)

Aero Linx: European Air Law Association (EALA) EALA was established in 1988 with the aim to promote the study of European air law and to provide an open forum for those with an int>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Korean War Hero Twice Reborn

From 2023 (YouTube Version): The Life, Death, Life, Death, and Life of a Glorious Warbird In 1981, business-owner Jim Tobul and his father purchased a Chance-Vought F4U Corsair. Mo>[...]

Airborne 04.29.24: EAA B-25 Rides, Textron 2024, G700 Deliveries

Also: USCG Retires MH-65 Dolphins, Irish Aviation Authority, NATCA Warns FAA, Diamond DA42 AD This summer, history enthusiasts will have a unique opportunity to experience World Wa>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.02.24: Bobby Bailey, SPRG Report Cards, Skydive!

Also: WACO Kitchen Bails, French SportPlane Mfr to FL, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Innovation Preview Bobby Bailey, a bit of a fixture in sport aviation circles for his work with>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne 05.03.24: Advanced Powerplant Solutions, PRA Runway Woes, Drone Racing

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.02.24: Bobby Bailey, SPRG Report Cards, Skydive!

Airborne 05.01.24: WACO Kitchen, FAA Reauthorization, World Skydiving Day

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC