Kwajalein Meck
Site · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Minuteman, Sprint, Spartan, OBV, ERIS launch complex. Meck Island
Related
- Country
- USA
- Launch Vehicles
- Sprint ABM, Spartan ABM, ERIS, THAAD, Minuteman 2 PLV, GBI, LV-2
- Launch Sites
- Kwajalein
Chronology
90 events
1968 March 30
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1968 May 22
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1968 August 7
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1968 September 16
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM. FAILURE: Failure.1968 November 21
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM. FAILURE: Failure.1969 February 6
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1969 April 25
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1969 May 18
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1969 June 4
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM. FAILURE: Failure.1969 July 16
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1969 July 31
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1969 August 13
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM. FAILURE: Failure.1969 October 17
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1969 November 25
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1969 December 15
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1970 April 14
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM. FAILURE: Failure.1970 June 24
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1970 August 28
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.- Safeguard M1-4 Interceptor mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Safeguard M1-4 intercept by Spartan of a Minuteman 1B target..
1970 October 3
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.- Safeguard M1-27 Interceptor mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Safeguard M1-27 intercept by Spartan of a Minuteman 1B target..
1970 October 28
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM. FAILURE: Failure.1970 December 4
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1970 December 23
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1971 January 11
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.- SAFEGUARD M1-30 Interceptor mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Safeguard M1-30 intercept by Spartan of a Minuteman 1B target..
1971 January 11
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.- SAFEGUARD M1-30 Interceptor mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: US Army. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Safeguard M1-30 intercept by Spartan of a Minuteman 1B target..
1971 February 23
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1971 March 17
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1971 March 17
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1971 April 21
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1971 May 7
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1971 August 27
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1971 September 23
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM. FAILURE: Failure.1971 October 7
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1971 November 10
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1971 November 10
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1971 December 8
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1972 January 6
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1972 January 20
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1972 March 30
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1972 May 5
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1972 June 9
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1972 June 23
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1972 July 15
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1972 August 3
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1972 August 17
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM. FAILURE: Failure.1972 August 24
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1972 October 11
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM. FAILURE: Failure.1972 October 26
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1972 November 3
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1972 December 8
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1973 January 25
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1973 February 3
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1973 February 22
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1973 February 22
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1973 February 22
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1973 June 7
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1973 June 22
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1973 June 22
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1973 October 5
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1974 January 22
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM. FAILURE: Failure.1974 February 14
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1974 April 16
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1974 July 18
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1974 August 2
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1974 September 20
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1974 October 2
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1974 October 17
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1974 November 1
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1975 April 3
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1975 April 17
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Spartan ABM.1975 April 30
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: Sprint ABM.1991 January 28
18:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: ERIS.- ERIS Interceptor mission - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: US Army.
Apogee: 270 km (160 mi).
During the mission the TRW team monitored a mission telephone com channel real time in Redondo Beach. Participants recall the intense, "nail biting" anxiety as they waited the approximate 30 minutes it took for the RV to reach the nominal intercept point, over the Pacific and closer to Hawaii than to Kwajalein Atoll. Launch of the Minuteman I target from Vandenberg AFB came at 1803:00.3, launch of the ERIS interceptor at 1824:24.2, and kinetic intercept over Pacific at 1832:08.2.
1992 March 13
18:36 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: ERIS.- ERIS Interceptor mission - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: US Army.
Apogee: 290 km (180 mi).
This second test or ERIS against a Minuteman I was considered successful enough that no further tests were planned. A second launch attempt on 11 May 1991 had been scrubbed after launch of the target missile but before launch of the interceptor. Further develoment of the technology was to be accomplished by the Orbital Sciences' Aries test vehicle with spectacularly poor results.
1997 June 24
04:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2 PLV.- IFT-1A EKV ABM test - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USA SSDC.
Apogee: 200 km (120 mi).
Non-intercept fly-by to assess the performance of the Boeing-built EKV seeker, collect target phenomenological data, and evaluate (post-test) target-modeling and discrimination algorithms. Boeing was not chosen as the NMD EKV contractor, partly as a result of its system's performance on this test.
1998 January 16
03:46 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2 PLV.- IFT-2 EKV ABM test - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USA SSDC.
Apogee: 300 km (180 mi).
Non-intercept fly-by to assess the performance of the Raytheon-built EKV seeker, collect target phenomenological data, and evaluate (post-test) target-modeling and discrimination algorithms. Raytheon was chosen as the NMD EKV contractor, partly as a result of its system's performance on this test.
1999 October 3
02:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2 PLV.- IFT-3 EKV ABM test - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USA SSDC.
Apogee: 230 km (140 mi).
EKV anti-ballistic missile interceptor launched from Kwajalein Atoll by a two-stage PLV. Intercept of the MSLS launched by Minuteman 2 from Vandenberg was successful. Element test of the EKV, not an end-to-end system test, which relied on a surrogate booster vehicle and range assets to define the deployment basket and deliver the EKV to that location. Once deployed, the EKV operated autonomously to intercept the mock RV. Due to a malfunctioning Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which normally was used to position the EKV for the intercept, a backup method of locating the target had to be exercised. The EKV called upon its step-stare capabilities (which were used only during off-nominal circumstances) to extend its field of view since the target was not where it was anticipated. After executing that procedure, the EKV acquired its target.
2000 January 19
02:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2 PLV.- IFT-4 EKV ABM test - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USA SSDC.
Apogee: 230 km (140 mi).
Unsuccessful ABM test. First end-to-end system test (intercept attempt) using NMD prototype elements (except the IFICS) and range assets to approximate the objective system. The EKV was again successfully delivered by a surrogate booster and separated into the deployment basket. The failure to intercept was directly traceable to the cryogenic cooling system of the EKV, which failed to cool the IR sensors down to their operating temperatures in time because of an obstructed cooling line.
2000 July 8
04:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2 PLV.- IFT-5 EKV ABM test - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USA SSDC.
Apogee: 230 km (140 mi).
ABM test failure. Second end-to-end system test (intercept attempt) using NMD prototype elements and range assets to approximate the objective system. The IFICS served as the communication link between the BMC3 and EKV. The EKV did not separate from the surrogate booster due to an apparent failure in the 1553 data bus in the booster.
2001 July 15
03:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2 PLV.- IFT-6 EKV ABM test - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USA SSDC.
Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).
Successful ABM test, a repeat of IFT-5. The US Army then launched the Lockheed Martin PLV, consisting of SR19 and M57A1 stages, to an intercept it at an altitude of 225 km. The test was part of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defence Segment of the NMD (National Missile Defense) program.The prototype X-Band radar (XBR) used in IFT-6 could not process all the information it was receiving quickly enough, causing it to falsely report that the interceptor had missed its target. But in fact the interceptor functioned correctly, and the kill was confirmed by sensors on a satellite, a 747 jet, and ground stations. Starting in IFT-6, a recurring error was identified in the EKV's target position estimation data. The glitch never interfered with the effectiveness of the EKV, and was attributed to degraded EKV inertial measurement unit output data caused by electromagnetic interference from test-unique cabling.
2001 December 4
05:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2 PLV.- IFT-7 EKV ABM test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USA SSDC. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi). Successful ABM intercept test, a repeat of IFT-6..
2002 March 16
02:32 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2 PLV.- IFT-8 EKV ABM test - . Nation: USA. Agency: USA SSDC. Apogee: 225 km (139 mi). Successful ABM intercept test, with additional decoy target balloons being introduced..
2002 October 15
02:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2 PLV.- IFT-9 EKV Target mission - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USA SSDC.
Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).
Successful intercept. The target suite consisted of a mock warhead and a number of decoys launched from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, towards the Reagan Test Site on Kwajalein. IFT-9 (largely a replay of IFT-8) was designed to increase confidence in the GMD capability to execute hit-to-kill intercepts. Overall, the test execution was nominal although the EKV experienced the track gate anomaly previously observed in IFT-7 and IFT-8. The software changes incorporated in IFT-9 to mitigate this problem were not successful. The Aegis SPY-1 radar was used for the first time in a national missile defense capacity.
2002 December 11
08:46 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Minuteman. Launch Vehicle: Minuteman 2 PLV.- IFT-10 EKV Target mission - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: USA SSDC.
Apogee: 225 km (139 mi).
Attempted anti-ballistic missile night intercept. The EKV failed to separate from the surrogate boost vehicle. The failure to separate was attributed to a quality control failure combined with shank and vibration loads on the EKV. As a result, corrective measures taken to fix the track gate anomaly found in previous tests could not be tested. GMD suspended intercept flight testing after IFT-10. IFT-11 and IFT-12 that employed the problematic surrogate booster were eliminated from the schedule.
2004 January 27
02:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.- IFT-13B [EKV Mock-up] test - .
Nation: USA.
Agency: OSC.
Manufacturer: OSC.
Apogee: 272 km (169 mi).
Launch delayed from October 2003. This system-level test of the Orbital Sciences' boost vehicle launched the rocket carrying a simulated EKV from Kwajalein Atoll against a simulated target coming from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. IFT-13B was not an intercept attempt. Included in this test was the latest version of the GMD program's fire control software, which was being built by Northrop Grumman and which performed as expected in this test.
2005 December 14
03:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Pegasus. Launch Vehicle: GBI.- FT-1 EKV Prototype ABM test - . Nation: USA. Agency: MDA. Manufacturer: OSC. Apogee: 1,800 km (1,100 mi). Launch delayed from late 2004. Successful test of hit-to-kill anti-ballistic missile homer, although no target was intercepted..
2010 December 15
19:57 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: LV-2.- FTG-06A Target - . Nation: USA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). ABM target..
2011 April 15
06:52 GMT - . Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. LV Family: Trident. Launch Vehicle: LV-2.- FTM-15 Target - . Nation: USA. Type: ABM Target. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi).
2012 October 25
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: THAAD.- THAAD FTI-01 - . Nation: USA. Type: ABM. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Interceptor mission, part of the FTI-01 missile defence experiment. Successfully intercepted an E-LRALT target launched from a C-17 off Wake Island..
2013 September 10
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: THAAD.- THAAD KV eMBRM intercept - . Nation: USA. Type: ABM. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Anti-ballistic missile.
2013 September 10
Launch Site: Kwajalein. Launch Complex: Kwajalein Meck. Launch Vehicle: THAAD.- THAAD KV Aegis Backup - . Nation: USA. Type: ABM. Anti-ballistic missile.