Lockheed Missile Defense Booster Test Set for Tomorrow

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is planning to test launch tomorrow a missile interceptor booster rocket developed by defense contractor Lockheed Martin, Aerospace Daily reported (see GSN, Dec. 17).

The Booster Verification-5 test has been delayed repeatedly by technical difficulties and accidents. The latest delay came last month, when a Dec. 15 test date was pushed back by equipment malfunctions.

Both Lockheed Martin and Orbital Sciences are developing boosters for the U.S. Ground-based Midcourse Defense system. The Orbital Sciences version has experienced fewer setbacks and will be used at least initially when the missile defense effort is launched later this year (see related GSN story, today).

A Defense Department spokesman said the December delay was caused by a faulty set of circuit boards in the booster. Lockheed disputed that explanation, saying that the problem was in the ground support equipment (Marc Selinger, Aerospace Daily, Jan. 8).

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