Two Unarmed Minuteman III ICBMs Launched from Vandenberg AFB

RELEASE NUMBER 00-0919

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, CA – Team Vandenberg successfully launched two unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles at
1:01 and 3:01 a.m. from North Vandenberg.

Today’s launch was a team effort by members of the 30th Space Wing and the 576th Flight Test Squadron here, the 90th Space Wing from F.E.
Warren AFB, Wyo., and the 341st Space Wing, Malmstrom AFB, Mont. The spacelift commander for this mission was Col. Steve Lanning, 30th
Space Wing commander. The mission director was Lt. Col. Douglas Kelley, 576th Flight Test Squadron commander. Capt. Joseph Le May, 576th
FLTS, was the launch director.

The mission was a part of the Force Development Evaluation Program. The purpose of this launch was to test the reliability and accuracy of Air
Force weapon systems.

Maintenance members from the 90th SW, the 341st SW and the 576th FLTS conducted maintenance activities for the launch. Task force
commander for the team from Wyoming was Lt. Col. Lennie Bane. Lt. Col. Lloyd Keeton Jr. was the task force commander from Montana.

The missiles’ unarmed re-entry vehicles travel approximately 4,200 miles in about 30 minutes, hitting a pre-determined target at the Kwajalein
Missile Range in the western chain of the Marshall Islands.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Video will be available at the Main Gate Visitor’s Center three hours after launch.

– 30 SW –