Ed Kyle wrote:
Allen Thomson wrote:
Ed Kyle wrote:

How many knew about this test? The Air Force (US variety)
drop (parachute) launched a Castor 4B-based test missile
from a C-17 on September 26 to test the Cobra Dane missile
defense radar system.


I initially thought the missile was a Castor-based Orbital
target vehicle, but apparently it was a L-3 Coleman Aerospace
Long Range Air Launch Target. I confess I'd never heard of it
befo http://www.crc.com/LRALT.htm


http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050929/sfth071.html?.v=28


Lockheed Martin Launches Target for Cobra Dane Exercise
Thursday September 29 [2005], 3:46 pm ET
Team Completes First Mission for MDA's Targets and Countermeasures
Program

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lockheed Martin
(NYSE: LMT - News) announced today that it has completed its first
mission for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's (MDA's) Targets and
Countermeasures program, for which the company is prime contractor.
Lockheed Martin provided the test missile for the MDA's successful
Cobra Dane radar tracking exercise this week.

The Lockheed Martin industry team launched the target missile from a
U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft over the Pacific Ocean hundreds of
kilometers from the Cobra Dane radar at Eareckson Air Station in
Shemya, Alaska. The radar successfully tracked the test missile,
demonstrating the preparedness of this element of the Ballistic Missile
Defense System. The AN/FPS-108 Cobra Dane radar is a ground-based
sensor for tracking incoming threat missiles.

"We are pleased to have delivered 100 percent mission success on our
first mission working in partnership with the Missile Defense Agency as
the Targets and Countermeasures prime contractor," said Linda Reiners,
vice president, Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems
Company.

For the exercise, Lockheed Martin subcontractor L-3 Coleman Aerospace
of Orlando, Fla., constructed a launch vehicle that simulated a
realistic missile threat.

[snip]

The following writeup appears to describe the origin
of the test missile. Something called AltAir:

"http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/altair.htm"

The two-stage version of this thing would probably
weigh about 16 tonnes with payload, so it really is
a fairly "big" rocket.

Which makes me wonder. What is the heaviest launch
vehicle load that could be carried by a C-17? Could
it handle a 36 tonne Minotaur, which can orbit as
much as 640 kg? Some tonnes must be required just
for the launcher equipment, and I see that the max
loading is thought to be something like 77 tonnes.

Sheesh. It looks like it has already been done almost.

"http://www.crc.com/SRALT.htm"

This thing looks like it consisted of the first two
stages of a Minuteman, which would have weighed in at
more than 30 tonnes. They've been busy out there over
the Pacific horizon...

- Ed Kyle


It would seem that the missile defense effort might
be creating some potentially useful space launch
infrastructure.

- Ed Kyle