USAF Test-launches Minuteman Missile

The US Air Force has test-launched an unarmed Minuteman 3 missile that carried reentry vehicle on Friday.

The missile blasted off at 3:53 a.m. from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the coast northwest of Los Angeles.

It was launched for the second time this week, Associated Press reported. The Air Force said the missile carried a test re-entry vehicle that hit a target area in the Pacific Ocean near Guam 40 minutes after liftoff.

Col. Shane Clark, the 30th Space Wing vice commander said that conducting two test-launches in less than a week demonstrated the capabilities of the intercontinental ballistic missile fleet and crews.

The week's first launch occurred early Monday. The test involved personnel from Vandenberg's 576th Flight Test Squadron and the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana.

"Launching multiple missiles in close proximity to each other adds an extra amount of realism to the operational test mission we fulfill here. These test launches occur due to the training and strict attention to detail our people have; resulting in a reliable test." said Col. Kelvin Townsend, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander.