Re: "Big" Missile Launched from C-17


Allen Thomson wrote:
> Ed Kyle wrote:
>
> > How many knew about this test? The Air Force (US variety)
> > drop (parachute) launched a Castor 4B-based test missile
> > from a C-17 on September 26 to test the Cobra Dane missile
> > defense radar system.
>
>
> I initially thought the missile was a Castor-based Orbital
> target vehicle, but apparently it was a L-3 Coleman Aerospace
> Long Range Air Launch Target. I confess I'd never heard of it
> before: http://www.crc.com/LRALT.htm
>
>
> http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050929/sfth071.html?.v=28
>
>
> Lockheed Martin Launches Target for Cobra Dane Exercise
> Thursday September 29 [2005], 3:46 pm ET
> Team Completes First Mission for MDA's Targets and Countermeasures
> Program
>
> ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lockheed Martin
> (NYSE: LMT - News) announced today that it has completed its first
> mission for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA's) Targets and
> Countermeasures program, for which the company is prime contractor.
> Lockheed Martin provided the test missile for the MDA's successful
> Cobra Dane radar tracking exercise this week.
>
> The Lockheed Martin industry team launched the target missile from a
> U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft over the Pacific Ocean hundreds of
> kilometers from the Cobra Dane radar at Eareckson Air Station in
> Shemya, Alaska. The radar successfully tracked the test missile,
> demonstrating the preparedness of this element of the Ballistic Missile
> Defense System. The AN/FPS-108 Cobra Dane radar is a ground-based
> sensor for tracking incoming threat missiles.
>
> "We are pleased to have delivered 100 percent mission success on our
> first mission working in partnership with the Missile Defense Agency as
> the Targets and Countermeasures prime contractor," said Linda Reiners,
> vice president, Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems
> Company.
>
> For the exercise, Lockheed Martin subcontractor L-3 Coleman Aerospace
> of Orlando, Fla., constructed a launch vehicle that simulated a
> realistic missile threat.
>
> [snip]

The following writeup appears to describe the origin
of the test missile. Something called AltAir:

"http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/altair.htm";

The two-stage version of this thing would probably
weigh about 16 tonnes with payload, so it really is
a fairly "big" rocket.

Which makes me wonder. What is the heaviest launch
vehicle load that could be carried by a C-17? Could
it handle a 36 tonne Minotaur, which can orbit as
much as 640 kg? Some tonnes must be required just
for the launcher equipment, and I see that the max
loading is thought to be something like 77 tonnes.

It would seem that the missile defense effort might
be creating some potentially useful space launch
infrastructure.

- Ed Kyle

.

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