Vandenberg will launch another test missile this week — here’s when

Update, May 1:

The missile launched early Wednesday morning. Read more about the launch here.

Original story

We’re getting another missile test this week, Central Coast.

Vandenberg Air Force Base will conduct a test of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday, according to a news release Monday.

The launch is scheduled for between 1:16 a.m. and 7:16 a.m. Wednesday.

Missile launches are typically visible from much of the Central Coast, including San Luis Obispo County.

The test launch checks the effectiveness and accuracy of the nation’s defense systems, according to the release.

The Air Force base, located near Lompoc, conducted a“milestone” missile defense test in March in which the U.S. Missile Defense Agency fired interceptor missiles from it to hit an unarmed ICBM.

The test was meant to practice how well the U.S. military could respond in the event of a missile being shot from another country like North Korea or Iran.

This story was originally published April 29, 2019 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Vandenberg will launch another test missile this week — here’s when."

Kaytlyn Leslie

The Tribune

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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.