US Missile Test Failure Caused By 'Minor' Glitch: General

MISSILE DEFENSE

File photo of an earlier flight test of the ground-based midcourse defense development program, from Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Washington DC (AFP) Jan 12, 2005
The first flight test of the US ground-based missile defense system in more than two years failed last month because of a "very minor software glitch," the head of the US Missile Defense Agency said Wednesday.

Lieutenant General Henry Obering said the Pentagon plans to repeat the test as early as mid February but he indicated there currently are no plans to set a date for putting the controversial system on alert.

"I cannot tell you there is going to be a date certain when we will to declare anything. I can tell you we do have a capability that is out there. We continue in the process of improving it, and we continue in the process of exercising with it... and we will continue in that mode."

President George W. Bush had set a goal of putting the missile defense system on alert by the end of 2004, but it slipped after the December 15 test failure.

The test was aborted after a built-in internal check detected an anomally in the interceptor missile, shutting it down moments before launch from an atoll in the Pacific.

Obering said an assessment had determined that the anomally was a rare gap in the flow of electronic messages between the flight computer and the interceptor's thrust vector controller, which guides the missile.

"In the aggregate, this is a very minor software glitch," he said in a teleconference with reporters. He said the problem was being fixed by relaxing the limits on the number of dropped messages allowed before the missile is shut down automatically.

Fixing the problem did not require removing interceptor missiles from silos in Alaska and California, he said. Obering said he expected adjustments but no major changes in its schedule of five flight tests this year, including at least two attempted intercepts.

All rights reserved. � 2004 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.

MISSILE DEFENSE

LockMart Completes Testing Of Aegis BMD Initial Engagement Capability

Moorestown NJ (SPX) Jan 11, 2005
Lockheed Martin successfully completed land-based testing of the first deployable Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) engagement capability. This marks a significant milestone toward an initial, sea-based capability to defend the United States, deployed forces and allies from the threat of short- and medium-range ballistic missile attack.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.