Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. 24/7 Space News .




MISSILE DEFENSE
Cause of missile defense test failure unclear: US
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) Dec 16, 2010


Out of 15 tests of ground-based interceptors since 1999, seven have failed, according to the Missile Defense Agency.

A top US general said Thursday it was unclear why an interceptor meant to knock out incoming ballistic missiles failed in a test for the second time in a row.

General James Cartwright, the military's second highest ranking officer, said he had no doubts that the country's missile defense system could fend off potential threats, despite Wednesday's failed test.

"I'm not the least bit concerned that we don't have a capability to defeat, should we need to, that rogue threat that the system's been designed against," Cartwright told reporters.

In the test on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, an interceptor rocket launched from a base in California failed to intercept its target, an intermediate-range ballistic missile, the Missile Defense Agency said.

Officials will carry out an "extensive investigation to determine the cause of the failure to intercept the target," the agency said in a statement.

A similar test carried on January 31 resulted in failure.

Cartwright said the latest test involved an "upgraded version" of an interceptor, but that older models currently deployed were reliable.

"We test in order to find out if something works," Cartwright said.

"The question now is, make sure we understand, was it two failures that were of the same ilk or was it two very different failures?" he said.

"We just don't know those answers yet."

Out of 15 tests of ground-based interceptors since 1999, seven have failed, according to the Missile Defense Agency.

"The next flight test will be determined after identification of the cause of the failure," the agency said.

Aerospace giant Boeing is the lead contractor for the missile defense program.

The ground-based defense system is meant to shield the United States from a potential ballistic missile attack, possibly from North Korea or Iran.

.


Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








MISSILE DEFENSE
Poland asked US about missile shield uses: WikiLeaks
London (AFP) Dec 7, 2010
The US told Poland that a proposed American and NATO missile shield aimed at defending against attacks from Iran or Syria could be used to stop "missiles coming from elsewhere," US cables released by WikiLeaks showed Tuesday. Despite repeated claims that the shield is not aimed at deterring attacks from Russia, the correspondence suggests US officials have considered broader uses for the def ... read more


MISSILE DEFENSE
Robotic Excavations Could Help Get Helium 3 From Moon To Earth

A Softer Landing on the Moon

Neptec Wins Canadian Space Agency Contract To Develop A New Generation Of Lunar Rovers

Mission to far side of moon proposed

MISSILE DEFENSE
Wind And Water Have Shaped Schiaparelli On Mars

The Three Ages Of Mars

Odyssey Orbiter Nears Martian Longevity Record

Drilling For The Future Of Science

MISSILE DEFENSE
Virgin Galactic To Join NASA Submissions For Orbital Spaceflights

Paolo Nespoli Heads To ISS On MagISStra Mission

'Out of this world' Most Successful Exhibition Of Ruhr 2010 Project

Iran Plans To Build Second Spaceport

MISSILE DEFENSE
China Builds Theme Park In Spaceport

Tiangong Space Station Plans Progessing

China-Made Satellite Keeps Remote Areas In Venezuela Connected

Optis Software To Optimize Chinese Satellite Design

MISSILE DEFENSE
New ISS Crew Members Set For Friday Arrival

New crew members dock with space station

ISS Tracks Months-Long Voyages Of Ships At Sea

Busy Day For ISS Commander

MISSILE DEFENSE
Arianespace To Launch ESA's First Sentinel Satellite

The Flight Of The Dragon

SpaceX Dragon Does Two Orbits Before Pacific Splashdown

NASA, SpaceX giddy over historic orbit launch

MISSILE DEFENSE
Qatar-Led International Team Finds Its First Alien World

Planetary Family Portrait Reveals Another Exoplanet

New Pictures Show Fourth Planet In Giant Version Of Our Solar System

Carbon-Rich Planet: A Girl's Best Friend

MISSILE DEFENSE
A2100 Commercial Satellite Fleet Achieves 300 Years In Orbit

Japan's Sharp to build LCD lines for smartphones: report

IRIS Passes Critical Design Review

Endeavor Power Launches Endeavor Metals




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal 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