Makeyev reports about a salvo launch of Sineva in Russian
http://www.makeyev.ru/infores/news/311The English version says:
In August 6, 2010 two ballistic missiles of the SINEVA family were successfully launched from the TULA submarine board.
The intercontinental ballistic missiles were launched from submerged position in accordance with the battle training plan. All warheads were landed on the KURA range in estimated time. The assigned objective related to the standard weapon of the sea-based strategic nuclear forces of Russia was performed completely.
Makeyev reports about a salvo launch of Sineva in Russian
http://www.makeyev.ru/infores/news/311
The English version says:
In August 6, 2010 two ballistic missiles of the SINEVA family were successfully launched from the TULA submarine board.
The intercontinental ballistic missiles were launched from submerged position in accordance with the battle training plan. All warheads were landed on the KURA range in estimated time. The assigned objective related to the standard weapon of the sea-based strategic nuclear forces of Russia was performed completely.
That seems definitive. The Russian version quotes 1915 Moscow Time, which I assume is civil (summer) time corresponding to 1515 UTC.
From NASA Wallops web site:
36.219 US HASSLER/SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE8-23-2010
36.219 US Black Brant IX was launched from White Sands Missile Range, NM on August 23, 2010.The purpose of this mission is to observe and analyze dynamics and heating of the solar chromosphere and corona. The Rapid Acquisition Imaging Spectrograph Experiment (RAISE) sounding rocket payload is an extremely high speed scanning-slit imaging spectrograph designed to observe and analyze dynamics and heating of the solar chromosphere and corona on time scales as short as 100 ms, with TRACE-like spatial resolution and a velocity sensitivity of 1-2 km/s. RAISE will address three general topics that are accessible only with our instrument's unique capabilities: 1) Small-scale multithermal dynamics in active-region loops; 2) the strength, spectrum, and location of high frequency waves in the solar atmosphere; and 3) the nature of transient brightenings in the chromospheric network. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Don Hassler/Soutwest Research Institute.
http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/#
LM News Release - no idea where or when launches took place. Anyone know for either/both first and second exercise?
Lockheed Martin Completes Second Live Tracking Exercise for Ballistic Missile Defense
MOORESTOWN, N.J., August 25th, 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully identified and tracked four live targets during a test of its Multi-Mission Signal Processor (MMSP) being fielded as part of the Aegis next-generation Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) capability. .....
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2010/082510_LM_MMSP.htmlfirst exercise:
Lockheed Martin Completes First Live Tracking Exercise with New Multi-Mission, Open Architecture Aegis Signal Processor
MOORESTOWN, N.J., April 12th, 2010 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully identified and tracked numerous live targets for the first time using its new Multi-Mission Signal Processor (MMSP). ......
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2010/041010_LM_Aegis_LiveTracking.html
S-520-25 successfully launched
The sounding rocket S-520-25 was successfully launched at 5:00 a.m. on August 31, 2010 (Japan Standard Time,) from the Uchinoura Space Center. The vertical angle at the launch was 82.5 degrees. The S-520-25 was designated to conduct basic experiments on the electro-dynamic tether (EDT) in the ionosphere and to control the attitude of a robot using a tether under the micro-gravity environment while the rocket was making a sub-orbit flight for about 10 minutes to reach its maximum altitude of some 300 km.
The rocket flew normally, and, at 55 seconds after liftoff, its top part opened, and at 58 seconds, the plasma measurement probe (FLP, SSP) was deployed to start observations. The conductive tether was extended at about 120 seconds, and the extension image was transmitted to the ground through the Ku telemetry. The Tethered Space Robot (TSR) was separated from the auxiliary unit of the rocket (DAU) at 297 seconds, and its attitude was controlled by the TSR arm until 310 seconds after liftoff. Concerning the plasma collection experiment, we were able to successfully extend the conductive tether and boom and verify the high-speed ignition function of the Hollow Cathode (HC) despite the fact that the high-voltage control was not carried out as scheduled, thus we have gained a perspective to develop a more efficient plasma collection device.
The S-520-25 rocket reached a maximum altitude of 309 km at 283 seconds after liftoff, completed all observation projects, and fell down to the ocean south-east of Uchinoura.
Source: JAXA
http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/s_rockets/index_e.html
Any ideas on where and when this test took place? Usually the tests are announced well after the test actually took place.
Northrop Grumman Distributed Aperture System (DAS) for F-35 Demonstrates Ballistic Missile Defense Capabilities
BALTIMORE, Sept. 7, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) AN/AAQ-37 Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System (DAS) for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter successfully detected and tracked a two-stage rocket launch at a distance exceeding 800 miles during a routine flight test conducted aboard the company's BAC 1-11 test bed aircraft.
Photos accompanying this release are available at
http://media.globenewswire.com/noc/mediagallery.html?pkgid=7952 Full release at:
http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=200739Image Credits: Nothrop Grumman
Minuteman launch rescheduled
by Staff Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs
9/14/2010 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The launch of an Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed operational test Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile has been rescheduled to launch from north Vandenberg Friday, Sept. 17, between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m.
The missile's single unarmed re-entry vehicle is expected to travel approximately 5,300 miles, to a pre-determined target about 200 miles southwest of Guam.
The launch has been rescheduled because of the need to ensure data collection equipment in the impact area is fully ready, according to officials. Neither the missile nor any missile launch mechanisms at Vandenberg are the cause of the delay, officials said.
"As with all launches, stringent criteria must be met before we proceed with the test," said Colonel David Bliesner, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander. "It is important to be able to gather as much data as possible to properly assess the capability, operational effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the ICBM missile force."
The launch is one of a continuing series of pre-scheduled operational tests to ensure the weapon system's reliability and accuracy, officials said.
For more information, please call Air Force Global Strike Command public affairs at 318-456-0824.
Interesting thought .....
Minuteman III test & Valiant Shield 2010; anti-ASBM test?
The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command announced that it will launched an unarmed operational test Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile to a pre-determined target about 200 miles southwest of Guam on Friday. It just happens that Valiant Shield 2010 is being held in the same vicinity at the same time.
Taking part in the exercise is the George Washington CSG including USS McCampbell, USS Chung-Hoon, and guided missile cruisers USS Shiloh and USS Cowpens. USS Shiloh is certified BMD-capable and USS Cowpens should be refitted with TBMD engagement capability by now.
The exercise calls for the ships to steam east from Palau towards Guam. The exercise started on Sunday and ends ten days later at Guam.
Is the Minuteman III launch a test for the ships to defend themselves from a simulated anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) attack?
source:
http://alert5.com/2010/09/16/minuteman-iii-test-anti-asbm-test/#more-3054
September 17, 2010
VAFB Release No. 04-0910
VANDENBERG CONDUCTS MINUTEMAN III FLIGHT TEST
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - A scheduled unarmed operational test Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile launch occurred here at 3:03 a.m., Sept. 17 from Launch Facility-09.
The missile's single reentry test vehicle traveled approximately 5,300 miles to a pre-determined target about 200 miles southwest of Guam. ICBM analysts, including the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, will use the data collected to ensure the readiness and capability of the ICBM fleet.
"The launch process requires tremendous teamwork and involves months of preparation," said Col. David Bliesner, 576th Flight Test Squadron Commander. "The data gained from these launches allows us to maintain a high readiness capability and ensures operational effectiveness of the most powerful weapons in the nation's arsenal."
The launch was a combined effort of the 576th FLTS here; 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.; 625th Strategic Operations Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb.; and the 30th Space Wing here.
Image Credit: USAF/VAFB
Interesting thought .....
Minuteman III test & Valiant Shield 2010; anti-ASBM test?
The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command announced that it will launched an unarmed operational test Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile to a pre-determined target about 200 miles southwest of Guam on Friday. It just happens that Valiant Shield 2010 is being held in the same vicinity at the same time.
Taking part in the exercise is the George Washington CSG including USS McCampbell, USS Chung-Hoon, and guided missile cruisers USS Shiloh and USS Cowpens. USS Shiloh is certified BMD-capable and USS Cowpens should be refitted with TBMD engagement capability by now.
The exercise calls for the ships to steam east from Palau towards Guam. The exercise started on Sunday and ends ten days later at Guam.
Is the Minuteman III launch a test for the ships to defend themselves from a simulated anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) attack?
source: http://alert5.com/2010/09/16/minuteman-iii-test-anti-asbm-test/#more-3054
Hmm... interesting thought. Aegis ships have used Minuteman flights as targets of opportunity for their radars (GT185 in Jun 2004 is documented as such a case, and GT203 is on the schedule as an Aegis target of opportunity).
There have been previous Guam flights - GT190 in Apr 2006, GT197 in May 2008 for example. So the Guam thing might just be a coincidence. I was assuming the current flight was GT202GM which is mentioned in
www.dtic.mil/descriptivesum/Y2011/MDA/0603888C_PB_2011.pdfas being an ABL target of opportunity (but that could have changed).
GT202GM is mentioned in this blog posting from a month ago:
http://ontheedge.posterous.com/glory-trip-202gm-task-forceAnyone know of any other Minuteman flights to Guam?
Transition to internal power.
Resetting clock to T-2 min
There is need to load new launch settings. 30 minutes need to cool down some stuff (didn't heard what excatly).