Minuteman III launch scheduled

  • Published
  • By Staff
  • 30th Space Wing Public Affairs
A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test flight is scheduled to launch from North Vandenberg Wednesday, June 30, between 3:01 a.m. to 9:01 a.m. PDT.

The launch is an operational test to determine the weapon system's reliability and accuracy.

The 576th Flight Test Squadron, which will direct the missile launch, installed tracking, telemetry and command destruct systems on the missile to collect data and meet safety requirements. Maintenance and operations task force personnel from the 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Montana, are conducting operational tasks supporting the launch.

Col. Steven Winters, the 30th Space Wing vice commander, is the launch decision authority for this mission. Col. Carl T. DeKemper, the 576th FLTS commander, is the mission director. A crew from Malmstrom AFB will launch the missile under the direction of the 576th FLTS.