THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES (CAAB) return to Latest News menu

By Janene Scully -- Staff Writer

12/14/03: Monday's scheduled test of a missile defense booster was called off due to a technical issue that will delay the blastoff for at least three days.

Liftoff now is planned during a six-hour launch window opening at 10 a.m. Thursday. The launch vehicle will fly from an underground silo on north Vandenberg Air Force Base.

The Missile Defense Agency is conducting the test to gather data about the weapon's performance. The booster is being developed to carry a high-tech interceptor designed to shoot down limited long-range weapons fired at the United States.

Agency spokesman Rick Lehner said Friday that crews conducting a pre-launch inspection found a faulty electronics module, which performs multiple functions as the missile flies. That part reportedly will be replaced before the test can occur.

Lockheed Martin serves as the prime contractor for this booster, which will be used for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense segment. For this test, the weapon will fly about 3,000 miles and splash down in the Pacific Ocean.

The Missile Defense Agency is developing two boosters for the missile defense program. Orbital Sciences Corp. developed the second booster, which flew successfully earlier this year.