An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile—scheduled for a May 20 launch—was grounded until further notice, according to a press release from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Second Lt. Raymond Geoffroy, a spokesman for 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, told the Sun that launch officials want to make sure the launch they’re simulating is as close to an actual on-duty launch as possible and therefore need to collect more system data.
The delay will allow personnel working on the launch to collect more information while the missile stays in its operational ground configuration. A new launch date has yet to be set.
“We are working with the Western Range to establish a new launch date at their earliest convenience,” Lt. Col. Lesa Toler, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander, said in a release to the media. “It’s not an easy process, as the Western Range, Pacific Missile Range, and Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll are all extremely busy and have competing priorities to de-conflict.”
Geoffroy said the base’s public affairs department plans to release the new launch date as soon as it becomes available.
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This article appears in May 14-21, 2009.