A bit of a mystery

TLAM Strike · 11-09-10, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Third Man

It appears to be on a ballistic trajectory. Does the AF still have the ASM-135 ASAT in its inventory?

No the ASAT has been retired. But its possible that an aircraft in a climb could accidentally launch a AAM causing a ballistic trajectory.

Oberon · 11-09-10, 10:46 AM

Unlikely...

More likely

AVGWarhawk · 11-09-10, 10:49 AM

Someone pushed the BIG RED BUTTON.

This not the missile you are looking for. I think we just found Area 52.

Dowly · 11-09-10, 10:52 AM

Comet NEAT

krashkart · 11-09-10, 10:54 AM

Alright, who's the ******* that screwed with the launch console?

11-09-10, 10:47 AM

But the contrail........

Looks more like this

Than any of these

I guess we'll find out soon enough

Oberon · 11-09-10, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Third Man

But the contrail........

Looks more like this

Than any of these

I guess we'll find out soon enough

You're right, I'm just looking at this:

That's definitely a ballistic missile of some sort...

TLAM Strike · 11-09-10, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

You're right, I'm just looking at this:

That's definitely a ballistic missile of some sort...

Holy $hit! Good video.

Yea that is a big bird. Guessing SLBM or a large interceptor missile.

Old dude in the video was wrong though the only live (yes a live nuke) SLBM test by the US was launched from the Pacific at a target in the Indian Ocean. It was called Frigate Bird.

ETR3(SS) · 11-09-10, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Old dude in the video was wrong though the only live (yes a live nuke) SLBM test by the US was launched from the Pacific at a target in the Indian Ocean. It was called Frigate Bird.

But he was right at the same time. Test launches of the missiles are conducted in the Atlantic, that's where all the necessary facilities are located at. Off the coast of SoCal wouldn't be a logical place for this either when we have Barking Sands.

TLAM Strike · 11-09-10, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

Off the coast of SoCal wouldn't be a logical place for this either when we have Barking Sands.

Not if they are doing a interceptor test from Barking Sands for the THAAD or some other system.

ETR3(SS) · 11-09-10, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Not if they are doing a interceptor test from Barking Sands for the THAAD or some other system.

Yeah, but if they had a test for that they would work around it not throw a dart at the map and just launch it from there. Well, you would think.

Platapus · 11-09-10, 08:53 PM

The flash of light you saw in the sky was not a missile. Swamp gas from a weather balloon was trapped in a thermal pocket and reflected the light from Venus.

<slipping on sunglasses>

Have you seen this really cool pen I have?

Rockstar · 11-09-10, 10:06 PM

I finally saw the video on the news tonight. My initial impression and gut feeling when viewing it was that of a contrail from an aircraft. The brightness of the object looked to me as if it was reflecting the sun rather than a burn from a rocket motor. Also saw what looked like darker smoke but it was just the shadow of the contrail.

Molon Labe · 11-09-10, 10:09 PM

Well, I'm starting to accept the contrail hypothesis.

The FAA says they didn't have any other reports about this. If this was a missile, lots of people would have seen it, pilots in the area especially. The radio would have been going nuts. No other reports mean it only looked this way from the particular spot where the camera was, ergo, contrail of an approaching aircraft.

I'd really like the pilot/cameraman to be interviewed so we can find out why this was reported as a missile. Did these people actually see the launch, or were they doing something else and then looked west and saw a "cloud", already formed, and just assumed the worst? Because it was reported as a missile launch from a specific point in the ocean, I've thought this whole time that the people in that helicopter actually saw the "missile" from a point in time only seconds from when it emerged from the surface, watched it climb, and could see the point on the surface where the smoke trail started. I guess I assumed that they wouldn't make an assumption that would raise a huge alarm. Doom on me.

krashkart · 11-09-10, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Molon Labe

Well, I'm starting to accept the contrail hypothesis.

The FAA says they didn't have any other reports about this. If this was a missile, lots of people would have seen it, pilots in the area especially. The radio would have been going nuts. No other reports mean it only looked this way from the particular spot where the camera was, ergo, contrail of an approaching aircraft.

I'd really like the pilot/cameraman to be interviewed so we can find out why this was reported as a missile. Did these people actually see the launch, or were they doing something else and then looked west and saw a "cloud", already formed, and just assumed the worst? Because it was reported as a missile launch from a specific point in the ocean, I've thought this whole time that the people in that helicopter actually saw the "missile" from a point in time only seconds from when it emerged from the surface, watched it climb, and could see the point on the surface where the smoke trail started. I guess I assumed that they wouldn't make an assumption that would raise a huge alarm. Doom on me.

How could I forget the most important word in journalism: Sensationalism!

11-09-10, 10:49 AM	#3
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,293 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Someone pushed the BIG RED BUTTON. This not the missile you are looking for. I think we just found Area 52. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

11-09-10, 08:53 PM	#12
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,397 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	The flash of light you saw in the sky was not a missile. Swamp gas from a weather balloon was trapped in a thermal pocket and reflected the light from Venus. <slipping on sunglasses> Have you seen this really cool pen I have? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

11-09-10, 10:09 PM	#14
Molon Labe Silent Hunter Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Along the Watchtower Posts: 3,810 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 5	Well, I'm starting to accept the contrail hypothesis. The FAA says they didn't have any other reports about this. If this was a missile, lots of people would have seen it, pilots in the area especially. The radio would have been going nuts. No other reports mean it only looked this way from the particular spot where the camera was, ergo, contrail of an approaching aircraft. I'd really like the pilot/cameraman to be interviewed so we can find out why this was reported as a missile. Did these people actually see the launch, or were they doing something else and then looked west and saw a "cloud", already formed, and just assumed the worst? Because it was reported as a missile launch from a specific point in the ocean, I've thought this whole time that the people in that helicopter actually saw the "missile" from a point in time only seconds from when it emerged from the surface, watched it climb, and could see the point on the surface where the smoke trail started. I guess I assumed that they wouldn't make an assumption that would raise a huge alarm. Doom on me. __________________

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-09-10, 10:46 AM	#2
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Unlikely... More likely

11-09-10, 10:52 AM	#4
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,055 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Comet NEAT

11-09-10, 10:54 AM	#5
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	Alright, who's the ******* that screwed with the launch console?

11-09-10, 10:47 AM	#6
The Third Man Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	But the contrail........ Looks more like this Than any of these I guess we'll find out soon enough

11-09-10, 10:06 PM	#13
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	I finally saw the video on the news tonight. My initial impression and gut feeling when viewing it was that of a contrail from an aircraft. The brightness of the object looked to me as if it was reflecting the sun rather than a burn from a rocket motor. Also saw what looked like darker smoke but it was just the shadow of the contrail.