Author Topic: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue  (Read 2206 times)

Offline Yeager

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Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« on: November 09, 2010, 02:31:21 PM »
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/mystery-missile-launched-missile-off-california-coast/story?id=12097155

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6A83Z820101109

Possible Chinese ICBM launch 35 miles off the coast of LA to remind the US of its imminent decline, (while its President is traveling overseas) and not to get in the way of Chinese ambitions in the new world order?  Or just a errant US missile launch.......
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Offline Reschke

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2010, 02:43:49 PM »
HOW does NORAD and other imaging satellites that look for these types of things miss a launch of a possible ICBM or ANY missile that would leave a tail like that? Especially one so close to a major metropolitan city like LA.

Honestly I would like to know since I have zero idea on those types of things.

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Offline Tupac

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2010, 03:16:39 PM »
It was just some errant swamp gas
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Offline Soulyss

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2010, 03:18:42 PM »
I vote for supersonic weather balloon.
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Offline Shuffler

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2010, 03:30:38 PM »
Could have been smaller and closer than folks thought. Meaning it could be some amature rocket enthusiast.

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Offline AAJagerX

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2010, 03:57:38 PM »
I've got a model rocket that would leave a similar contrail.  Not as large, but it is 8 ft tall.  I'm betting on a hobby rocket launch.  Some home -built rockets can be quite spectacular. 
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Offline Beefcake

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #6 on: November 09, 2010, 03:59:31 PM »
Sorry, I was doing some test runs with my B29. It was not my intent to scare everyone.  :D
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Offline Shuffler

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #7 on: November 09, 2010, 04:15:36 PM »
Down towards Galveston there is a launch site for rocket enthusiast. Some of those NASA boys bring some large rockets at times that require prior air traffic control before launch. Absolutely amazing to watch.
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Offline STXAce8

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #8 on: November 09, 2010, 04:19:06 PM »
Well I straped some new engines on my 262 to go kill your B-29 tht may have been it. Only like 1000 extra perks.
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Offline AAJagerX

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #9 on: November 09, 2010, 04:21:49 PM »
Down towards Galveston there is a launch site for rocket enthusiast. Some of those NASA boys bring some large rockets at times that require prior air traffic control before launch. Absolutely amazing to watch.

IIRC any rocket over 2 lbs (with engine) needs FAA clearance to launch. 
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Offline Jayhawk

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #10 on: November 09, 2010, 04:22:13 PM »
Any chance this was just a royal f*&k up that no one is fessing up to?
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Offline AAJagerX

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #11 on: November 09, 2010, 04:25:50 PM »
Any chance this was just a royal f*&k up that no one is fessing up to?

Could very well be.  If it is, I'm sure they'll figure out the details. 
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Offline Jayhawk

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #12 on: November 09, 2010, 04:29:21 PM »
Could very well be.  If it is, I'm sure they'll figure out the details. 

I kind of bet we'll hear it was a large amateur rocket, whether that is the truth or not.
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Offline Yeager

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #13 on: November 09, 2010, 04:35:15 PM »
Launch area was estimated to be 35 miles off the coast.  This was a sub launched missile and not a cruise missile.  This was a ICBM.  Look at the film.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-politics/20101109/US.Pentagon.Mystery.Missile/
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Offline Yossarian

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Re: Missile Launch off California coast - Pentagon has no clue
« Reply #14 on: November 09, 2010, 04:36:56 PM »
I kind of bet we'll hear it was a large amateur rocket, whether that is the truth or not.

Unless the perspective was deceiving, that rocket didn't look amateur to me.  Most amateur rockets go more or less vertically (just because you don't want to have to walk a few miles to retrieve it).  The rocket in the video appears to have a significant horizontal component (especially because it appears to have changed direction at one point, but perhaps there was some bad windshear).  IMO, it was either a badly screwed up (but rather powerful) amateur launch, or the perspective is just screwy, or it's shopped, or it's not amateur.  Who knows? :P
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