Southwest communities made aware of New Mexico missile test
Update with video: Missile launched from White Sands Missile Range
Authorities across the Southwest are preparing to be inundated with calls and emails from people who might catch a glimpse of the contrail that will be left behind by an early morning missile test, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
Officials at White Sands Missile Range say the Juno missile will be launched Thursday morning between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. from an old military depot in western New Mexico.
On its way to White Sands, the missile will drop a booster into a safety zone north of Datil, New Mexico. Roadblocks have been set up in the area.
A similar launch in 2012 created a buzz when reports flooded in about a colorful contrail that was visible from southern Colorado, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Las Vegas. This time, officials are sharing information about the launch with communities as far away as Palm Springs.
In November, communities all throughout Southern California looked to the sky when the U.S. Navy test fired an unarmed Trident II (D5) missile as part of a classified launch off Point Mugu.
It’s more than 150 miles away from the Coachella Valley but the bright light was clearly scene by all in the desert, and the sight came as a big surprise because it was a classified launch.
