A Minuteman moment

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VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) --  An unarmed Minuteman III ICBM launched from here at 1:32 a.m. PDT on June 23.

The missile’s unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled nearly 4,200 miles in about 30 minutes, hitting a predetermined target on Kwajalein Atoll in the western chain of the Marshall Islands.

The mission was part of the Force Development Evaluation Program, which tests the reliability and accuracy of the weapons system. Quarterly testing is necessary because the U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile fleet continuously on alert must be mission capable, and missile combat crews must be ready to launch on a moment's notice, according to Jack Hokanson of the 30th Space Wing’s public affairs office.

The United States maintains ICBMs because there are still countries that display nuclear capability, added Mr. Hokanson.