A military missile test launch on the Central Coast ended in failure, with the missile blowing up seconds after launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
A Minotaur II+ missile lifted off from Vandenberg’s Test Pad 01 at 11:01 p.m. Wednesday night. It’s on the north side of the base. Vandenberg officials say it blew up about 11 seconds later.
As is routine during launches, base emergency crews were on standby monitoring the launch. There were no reports of injuries. Base officials say the debris was contained to the area of the launch pad. But, the explosion did trigger a small brush fire in the area.
The missile was carrying what is known as the Mk21A reentry vehicle, which is intended to be used on a new intercontinental ballistic missile. They are both under development.
But, the Minotaur II rocket used existing technology, in the form of decommissioned Minuteman II missile boosters.
There have been more than a half dozen successful Minotaur II launches over the last 20 years before this explosion.
An investigation into the accident is underway.
