Minuteman III Launch Published Aug. 24, 2006 By 040606 VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled for launch from North Vandenberg Wednesday morning. The six-hour launch window is from 1:01 a.m. to 7:01 a.m. PST. The purpose of the launch is to verify the continued safety, reliability and accuracy of the Minuteman III ICBM. The missile will launch under the direction of the 576th Flight Test Squadron here. Col. Jack Weinstein, 30th Space Wing commander, is the spacelift commander. The mission director is Lt. Col. S.L. Davis, 576th FLTS commander. Members of the 576th FLTS installed tracking, telemetry and command destruct systems on the missile to collect data and meet safety requirements. The missile's single unarmed re-entry vehicle is expected to travel approximately 4,200 miles in about 30 minutes, hitting a pre-determined target at the Kwajalein Missile Range in the western chain of the Marshall Islands. The nation's ICBMs are a key component of global stability - a safe, secure and affordable weapon system that delivers deterrence. -30- NOTE TO EDITORS: All media planning to attend the on-base launch viewing opportunity must be credentialed by the 30th Space Wing Public Affairs office. Media members who intend to cover this event must call Staff Sgt. Allen Puckett at (805) 606-2320, no later than noon Tuesday. A media escort will depart the Main Gate Visitor's Center at 12 a.m. Wednesday.