Message posted by gary on March 16, 2002 at 13:05:45 PST:

The vapor trails of Friday's missile defense test out of Vandenberg were visible through much of the southwest yesterday. [Many calls to Art Bells show last night.] I saw the contrails, thought they were strange, but didn't bother to photograph them, mostly because it didn't look like the typical missile tests from the past.

The article in the link has the endless arguments of will it or won't it work that are about as conclusive as the Florida vote count.

Nice of Vandenburg to do these tests at a time when the trails will be edge lit and thus very visible. I've noticed contrails over the Groom range done at the most time of day as well (just before sunset) but figured they are from the weapons training school, though staircased trails (climb, level off, climb, etc) make me wonder if a test is being done.

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