The US National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly has launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to test its reliability and accuracy from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The missile was propelled at speeds of about 4,190 miles beyond 24,000mph carrying three unarmed re-entry vehicles to their targets near the Kwajalein Atoll in Marshall Islands.
The mission launch had been authorised by the US Air Force Space Command’s 30th Space Wing command.
The operational tasks on the mission were performed by the missile unit out of Minot Air Force Base in sync with the flight test squadron (FLTS).
Tracking, telemetry and command destruct systems had been installed on the missile by the FLTS to collect data and meet Air Force Space Command’s safety requirements.
The accumulated data will be used by the ICBM community including the US Strategic Command planners and Department of Energy laboratories.
