February 14, 2005 :: LA Times :: News
Today the Missile Defense Agency attempted to repeat the December 15 test of the ground based midcourse missile defense system. The December 15 test attempt did not take place when the interceptor shut down in its silo rather than launching, due to a software error. The interceptor did not launch again in today’s test.
MDA spokesman Rick Lehner is quoted as saying that today’s failure was under investigation, but that there were indications that the malfunction was the ground support equipment at the test range on Kwajalein Island, and not with the interceptor missile itself. “The interceptor itself is fine and will be used for other tests,” said Lehner, “We’ll just keep trying, keep testing and hopefully we’ll be able to do another interceptor test in the next few months, using the same interceptor.”
The target missile, a mock-ICBM, was fired early Monday morning from Kodiak Island, Alaska. The interceptor which did not launch was located at the Ronald Reagan Test Site on the Kwajalein atoll in the Pacific.
Today’s failure represents another setback for the system, and demonstrates the need for further testing, but by no means does it indicate any less of a need for a missile defense. (Article)
» MDA statement on test failure
» More stories on: Testing - American
» Missile system details for: Ground-Based Interceptor (GBI), Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS)
