Vandenberg schedules Minuteman III launch

An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a joint test assembly is scheduled to launch from North Vandenberg, Sunday, between 3:01 a.m. to 9:01 a.m. 

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

The missile’s single unarmed re-entry vehicle is expected to travel approximately 4,190 miles, hitting a pre-determined target near the Kwajalein Atoll. 

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, Mont., are conducting operational tasks supporting the launch. 
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