Re: "Big" Missile Launched from C-17
- From: "Ed Kyle" <edkyle99@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: 30 Sep 2005 09:26:26 -0700
Ed Kyle wrote:
> 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 looks like they already did this almost, with
what looks to be the first two stages of a Minuteman
that would have weighed more than 30 tonnes.
"http://www.crc.com/SRALT.htm";
- Ed Kyle
>
> It would seem that the missile defense effort might
> be creating some potentially useful space launch
> infrastructure.
>
> - Ed Kyle
.
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