A missile test early Thursday morning from Vandenberg Space Force Base will mark another step toward the development of a next-generation weapon system for the Defense Department.
While the military has remained mum about the planned launch time beyond saying Thursday morning, notices to mariners have been issued regarding a planned operation from the Santa Barbara County base between 8:01 p.m. Wednesday to 5:34 a.m. Thursday.
Boaters were advised to remain out of the ocean area off the northern tip of the sprawling base which covers 100,000 acres.
Likewise, pilots have been advised of a launch occurring between 10:46 p.m. Wednesday and 5:31 a.m. Thursday.
Vandenberg representatives provided especially tardy information Wednesday afternoon about the upcoming test which can startle residents by rattling windows and creating rumbles heard around North County.
However, they did not include the planned launch window, typically a shorter period than provided for notices for airmen and mariners.
Likewise, the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center declined to comment until after an advisory is sent at 3 p.m.
It’s not clear why the test has some secrecy. Typically, the United States notifies other nations of launches so it’s not mistaken for something fired in anger.
The test will involve the program for the Mark21A Reentry Vehicle, or Mk21A, which will ride aboard the Minotaur+ booster.
“The test launch will demonstrate preliminary design concepts and relevant payload technologies in operationally realistic environments,” according to AFNWC officials.
The Air Force is developing a next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile under Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent Weapon System, since renamed Sentinel.
As part of the that effort, the military and defense contractors are working to modify the existing Mk21 reentry vehicle, typically a cone shaped device that sits inside a missile’s nosecone. Reentry vehicles would carry a warhead for the final leg of a trip toward the target.
The program seeks to tweak the older Mk21 reentry vehicle with the capability to deliver the W87-1 Warhead for the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent Weapon System.
That weapon system would replace the fleet of aging Minuteman III ICBMs sitting on alert around Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana; F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; and Minot AFB, North Dakota.
In late 2019, the military awarded Lockheed Martin Corp. a Technology Maturation and Risk Reduction, or TMRR, contract potentially valued at $138 million. That included $108 million for the initial three years plus $30 million as a potential one-year contract, Lockheed Martin said at the time.
The missile test is one of two launches within a few days planned from Vandenberg.
A Space Exploration Technologies Falcon 9 rocket with more Starlink satellites continues to target liftoff from Space Launch Complex-4 on South Base between 5:45 p.m. and 11:39 p.m. Monday, according to a notice for pilots.
Vandenberg officials have said the liftoff would occurred between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.
SpaceX has developed a space-based system to provide internet access, especially for customers in remote areas including some rural Santa Barbara County residents and others across the globe.
— Noozhawk North County editor Janene Scully can be reached at jscully@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.