Vandenberg is launching first Minuteman III missile of 2021. Here’s when and how to watch

Update, Tuesday, 11:58 p.m.:

The missile appears to have successfully launched from the base shortly after 11:48 p.m., and could be seen from as far away as Los Angeles.

Original story:

Vandenberg Air Force Base will test its intercontinental ballistic missile system this week.

According to a news release, the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command’s unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled to launch from the base near Lompoc sometime between Tuesday at 11:47 pm. and Wednesday at 5:47 a.m.

The test launch is meant to “validate and verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the weapon system,” according to Air Force Global Strike Command.

This will be the first missile launch from the Central Coast military base this year.

This story was originally published February 22, 2021 at 3:38 PM.

Kaytlyn Leslie

The Tribune

805-781-7928 (voicemails only)

Kaytlyn Leslie writes about business and development for The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Hailing from Nipomo, she also covers city governments and happenings in San Luis Obispo. She joined The Tribune in 2013 after graduating from Cal Poly with her journalism degree.