It was a stunning sight Monday morning on the Central Coast.
The U.S. Military Defense Agency reports it successfully test launched a missile designed to intercept an incoming attack missile.
The 6:28 a.m. launch took place from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The Ground Based Interceptor was able to reach a missile launched from an aircraft.
The interceptor was a three-stage rocket, but the idea was to only use two stages to see if it could intercept an incoming missile at a closer range. The system is already deployed, with missiles on standby at Vandenberg and in Alaska to intercept a potential attack.
