Mystery Missile Launched Near LA

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Mystery Missile Launched Near LA

Posted by CmdrTaco on Tuesday November 9, 2010 @05:48AM from the he-did-it dept.

J. L. Tympanum writes "CBS News is reporting the launch of an unidentified missile off the coast of California. No one wants to take credit for it." The article has visuals taken from a CBS affiliate's helicopter, and a Navy spokesman said it wasn't theirs.

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Hmmm .... by gstoddart · 2010-11-09 05:52 · Score: 5, Interesting

So, the two likely scenarios would be: 1) The US test firing something, but nobody knows who or what just yet because it is being kept secret. 2) Someone else firing off missiles off the coast of the US to demonstrate a point.
I consider 1) likely, and 2) just downright scary.

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Lost at C:>. Found at C.
1. Re:Hmmm .... by The+Pirou · 2010-11-09 05:59 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  'Test' firing and attempting to keep a secret immediately off the coast of LA don't jive. If they were attempting to TRULY keep it a secret they would've performed tests elsewhere. Sabre rattling, or something else, it wasn't your first scenario.
2. Re:Hmmm .... by icebike · 2010-11-09 06:30 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  You are correct about the value to an adversary about a demonstration launch from US waters.
  But its a risky move to engage in this kind of stunt because the Russians might think it was a surprise attack of some kind.
  Especially if they pick up the red phone (do they still have that?) and ask what the hell is going on and receive only unbelievable denials.
  Russia and the US announce to each other ALL launches well in advance.
  Countries having the capability of underwater launch include China, Russia, Britain, US, and maybe Iran and India using ex soviet era subs. Maybe a couple others.
  The only one of these that could launch without fear of triggering a reprisal by Russia: Russia.
  But given the apparent lack of any mad scramble by the Military, you can be fairly sure they knew in advance about this. If the US military was caught flat footed, Obama would already be on his way back, and heads would already be rolling.
  There is also the distinct possibility its just more Security Theater to justify what ever is next.
  
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  Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
3. Re:Hmmm .... by NatasRevol · 2010-11-09 06:37 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  I want to know one thing.
  Where did it land?
  
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  There are two types of people in the world: Those who crave closure
4. Re:Hmmm .... by icebike · 2010-11-09 07:11 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  India would not demo off our coasts.
  The advocating inclusion of India in the security council was strictly for in-country (india) consumption. Don't expect any follow thru.
  
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  Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
5. Re:Hmmm .... by jackbird · 2010-11-09 07:24 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  Not fishy. The crieterion for permanent member status on the UN security council is "can start a global nuclear war if so desires." This is by design, and a hell of a good idea. Would you want such an entity NOT to be included in security matters in the UN's purview?
6. Re:Hmmm .... by Teancum · 2010-11-09 07:27 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  35 miles out to sea is in international waters..... shy of declaring war the U.S. Navy isn't going to destroy anything with impunity, but you will see a few naval officers get demoted real fast for failing to detect that vessel if it wasn't associated with the Navy.
  Launching a sub-based missile off the coast of California, if it was from another country, would be the equivalent between military powers as the "Ha,Ha" of Nelson Muntz.
  While I would say that the probable reaction of the U.S. Navy would be to ignore the incident and leave it to the politicians to determine what to do next, if anything, there isn't any reason for a country to expect a neutral reaction out of the U.S. Navy, and firing such a missile that close to a major population center would certainly be considered an act of war.
  There are several major military bases in the immediate area (especially at the port of Los Angeles /Long Beach, and at San Diego as well as Vandenberg AFB to the north and even a couple USMC bases in the area), so a lack of a response is due to political concerns and not military capability. It also makes it seem very likely that it was the U.S. military that was involved somehow with this launch. If it was a private launch of some kind, there would be a requirement to file paperwork with the FAA where the identity of the people doing the launch would be very well known. Considering the size of this vehicle, it isn't something you would make in your garage over a weekend and try to sneak a launch in saying "to heck with the gov'ment". Besides, the BATF and other federal agencies keep very close tabs on private launcher groups including commercial rocket builders and amateur rocketry groups too.
It's just a jet contrail by Muad'Dave · 2010-11-09 06:06 · Score: 5, Interesting

An expert named Brian on the seesat-l list says:

This pops up every once in a while. Seen it myself.
It's an airliner leaving a contrail that's being lit by the setting sun.
It appears to be going straight up because it's coming straight towards
the observer from over the horizon.
If we had a time, direction, and location of the viewpoint it would
not be difficult to determine which flight it was.
The contrail more than likely also shows on satellite weather imagery.
As many of us here know who have observed known missile launches, this
thing is moving WAAAAAAAAY too slow.

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Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
1. Re:It's just a jet contrail by Volante3192 · 2010-11-09 06:49 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  I think I found it:
  http://goes.gsfc.nasa.gov/goeswest-lzw/california/vis/
  Start at
  1011081945G11I01.tif 08-Nov-2010 15:03 506K
  and watch the contrail go south across the coast through
  1011082200G11I01.tif 08-Nov-2010 17:23 484K
2. Re:It's just a jet contrail by Volante3192 · 2010-11-09 07:49 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  I made a really primitive animated gif out of those shots:
  http://www.sinecreations.com/GOES.gif