The US Space Force Base Vandenberg reported that the first test launch of the Minotaur II+ rocket failed. The rocket exploded approximately 11 seconds after launch from the Test Pad-01 of Vandenberg Base (VSFB), California, on July 7 at 11:01 a.m. local time.
As a result of the explosion, no one was injured, and the debris was localized in the immediate vicinity of the launch pad. The VSFB said that an investigative commission has already been established to find out the cause of the explosion.
The test launch without weapons was the first test during the development of the new Mark21A launch vehicle for the United States Air Force (USAF). The Minotaur II+ test is one of the steps in the development of the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, created by Northrop Grumman. The Minotaur II+ will eventually become the Mark21A launch vehicle and replace the obsolete Minuteman III series intercontinental ballistic missiles that have been in service with the United States for more than 50 years.
According to officials of the US Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, this test launch was aimed at demonstrating the appropriate payload technologies and preliminary design concepts of the weapon system in an operationally realistic environment.
Earlier, an asteroid exploded in the sky over Iceland.
According to Airforce Technology
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