Even More of Your Tax Dollars Being Wasted

Rocket launch expected from Narrow Cape late next week
Article published on Friday, November 28th, 2008, Kodiak Daily Mirror

The Missile Defense Agency plans to launch a missile from Kodiak sometime near the end of next week, according to Dale Nash, CEO of the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation. The Department of Defense will announce exact time hours before the launch.

The launch, FTG-05, will simulate a missile attack on the United States. An interceptor missile will launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

An AN/TPY-2 radar unit has been temporarily stationed in Juneau as part of the upcoming test. According to MDA, the AN/TPY-2 is a high-resolution X-Band radar used to detect ballistic missiles early in their flight. It can track, identify and estimate the trajectory of a threat missile, and then feed that information to the command and control system used to develop intercept solutions.

The Coast Guard is scheduled to establish a safety zone from Dec. 5 to Dec. 8 in the vicinity of Narrow Cape and Ugak Island, according to a Coast Guard news release.

The safety zone will be enforced between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day or until canceled. The safety zone includes all navigable waters contained within the area bordered by the following latitude and longitude points: 57 degrees 26.094 minutes north, 152 degrees 25.128 minutes west, then south west to 57 degrees 24.294 minutes north, 152 degrees 24.930 minutes west, then south east to 57 degrees 18.318 minutes north, 152 degrees 21.210 minutes west, then northeast 57 degrees 24.306 minutes north, 152 degrees 06.444 minutes west, then northwest to 57 degrees 27.900 minutes north, 152 degrees 16.068 minutes west, then northwest to 57 degrees 28.494 minutes north, 152 degrees 19.218 minutes west.

Unauthorized entry into or through this zone is strictly prohibited and may result in civil or criminal penalties including fines of up to $32,500.

There also will be hazardous rocket impact areas established at points where the rocket stages are predicted to enter the ocean. The first stage hazard area is centered approximately 90 miles southeast of Kodiak Island from Dec. 5 to Dec. 8, between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. each day or until canceled. The hazard area is defined by the points 56.5 degrees north, 151.3 degrees west, 55.95 degrees north, 150.65 degrees west, 56.05 degrees north, 150.35 degrees west, 56.6 degrees north and 151.0 degrees west. All mariners are strongly advised to stay clear of this area.

The other two hazardous rocket impact areas are centered approximately 100 miles southwest of Dehlinger Seamount and 75 miles west of Erben Tablemount located in the North Pacific from Dec. 5 to Dec. 8, between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day or until canceled.

The second stage hazard area is defined the following latitude and longitude points 41.15 degrees north, 138.35 degrees west, 39.5 degrees north, 137.45 degrees west, 39.5 degrees north, 136.85 degrees west, 41.15 degrees north and 137.75 degrees west.

The third stage hazard area is defined by the following latitude and longitude points 33.25 degrees north, 135.0 degrees west, 30.9 degrees north, 133.75 degrees west, 30.9 degrees north, 133.0 degrees west, 33.25 degrees north and 134.25 degrees west.

The Coast Guard advises all mariners to stay clear of these areas.