GMD Booster Test Suffers Additional Delay

A planned test of a missile interceptor booster for use in the U.S. Ground-based Midcourse Defense system has been delayed, U.S. Missile Defense Agency spokesman Rick Lehner said yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 10).

The test, which would involve the first launch of a booster designed by U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, is now set to occur in the second half of November, Lehner said. The test had previously been postponed from September to October, according to Aerospace Daily.

Lehner said the test was delayed because of Lockheed Martin’s desire to conduct more ground testing of booster components and the need to document the work done on the booster.

“They’ll launch it when it’s ready to launch,” Lehner said. “We’re just being extra careful,” he added (Marc Selinger, Aerospace Daily, Oct. 24).

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