SPACE WIRE
India test fires air-to-air missile for the third time
BHUBANESWAR, India (AFP) May 12, 2003
 India test-fired its first domestically developed air-to-air missile for the third time in four days on Monday from a site in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, officials said.

The Astra is powered by solid propellant and can strike targets between 25 to 40 kilometres (15 to 25 miles) away, beyond the usual visual range.

The 3.8 metre high prototype was test-fired from a special fixed launcher on Sunday.

The missile also was fired from a fixed launcher during its debut test on Friday.

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