T-0 was at 1:01am PDT and this photo was shot with a Canon 20D at 55mm focal length.
The streak upper left to right is an aircraft.

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Vandenberg Airmen successfully conducted the final force development evaluation launch of the year from North Vandenberg today at 1:01 a.m.  The unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched to ensure the weapon system is operationally effective.

Testing the reliability and accuracy of the Minuteman III weapon system, the launch was a team effort by members of the 30th Space Wing and the 576th Flight Test Squadron here and the 91st Space Wing from Minot AFB, N.D.  The launch was executed through 20th Air Force’s Airborne Launch Control System aboard a U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft under the direction of the 576th FLTS.  Capt. Rasheem Wright, 576th FLTS, was the launch director. 

The mission director was Lt. Col. S. L. Davis, 576th FLTS commander.  Col. Jack Weinstein, 30th Space Wing commander, was the spacelift commander or final “go for launch” authority.

“I’ve long said that complete mission success is our standard, not our goal,” Colonel Weinstein said.  “Tonight these men and women proved once again they have what it takes to get the job done.  They worked together flawlessly, incorporating our Navy counterparts, and ensuring 100 percent mission success in our fourth and final Minuteman III launch of the year.”

To collect test data and meet safety requirements, members of the 576th FLTS performed pre-launch maintenance activities including missile emplacement and installation of unique missile tracking, telemetry and command destruct systems.

“This launch caps off an extremely busy year for the squadron,” Colonel Davis said.  “While some early anomalies complicated our testing efforts, hard work and determination allowed us to accomplish our mission.  Unlike others, our mission is not to launch, it's to test.  As the Air Force's only ICBM test squadron we must correctly assess both the accuracy and reliability of the ICBM weapon system.  We have done just that.”

“Both maintainers and operators assigned to the 576th FLTS continue to prove they are America's best missileers,” the colonel added.  “This morning's test is no exception.” 

Leading Colonel Davis’s higher headquarters unit, Col. John Riordan, 595th Space Group commander, echoed the mission director’s comments. 

“Executing the Operational Test Launch mission is challenging work,” Colonel Riordan said, “especially when you launch four ICBMs in under two months.  This was an impressive job by the military and civilian members of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, the 595th Space Group and the remarkable team of contractors who support us.  In addition, we could not conduct this nationally important mission without the exceptional support we receive from the 30th Space Wing and many other organizations associated with the execution of the ICBM flight test program.  The 576th Flight Test Squadron is always testing to support the warfighter’s mission.”

The missile’s single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles in about 30 minutes, hitting a pre-determined target at the Ronald Reagan Test Site on the Kwajalein Atoll in the western chain of the Marshall Islands.

Designated Glory Trip-189GM, this operational test launch continues a long history of Western Range launches used to verify, validate and improve the capability of the nation’s ICBM force--a key component to continued global stability.

Minuteman III launches from Vandenberg AFB on 09-07-2005

Minuteman II Launch from Vandenberg AFB 10-14-2002
 
Minuteman III launch test on 09-19-2002

  Minuteman II launch Intercept test on 03-15-2002

  Minuteman II launch Intercept test on 07-14-2001

  Minuteman II launch on 07-07-2002

  Minuteman II launch on 10-02-1999

 Minuteman II launch on 06-23-1997