VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Leaving the door closed during this week's test of a U.S. nuclear missile appeared to have little effect on the accuracy of the weapon.
The 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California launched a Minuteman III equipped with GPS tracking equipment with the silo door left closed in order to reflect more of a real-life scenario.
The wing said Thursday that the missile's single re-entry vehicle traveled some 4,200 miles and hit a pre-determined target at the Reagan Test Siten the South Pacific. The GPS capability enabled more accurate tracking of the missile during its flight than radar.
Engineers from the Air Force and civilian agencies were still pouring over the test data Thursday.
"This test was more challenging than most with our return to activating the 120-ton launcher closure door. This change improves operational realism of the test and will result in improved weapon system accuracy data," said Lt. Col. S.L. Davis, who was the mission commander for Wednesday's pre-dawn launch by a crew flown in from North Dakota.
The big doors have opened in recent tests in a money-saving move; however the Air Force wanted to check out the ICBM's performance after plowing through it on liftoff. Keeping the door closed also protected the silo and the rocket from the elements.
