28.10.2023

After at least two previous scrubs, the Department of Defense planned again to launch a hypersonic missile Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during a classified flight test.

But the previously undisclosed operation did not happen, a spokesperson with the Office of the Secretary of Defense confirmed to FLORIDA TODAY.

Here's what we know: A Federal Aviation Administration temporary flight restriction for "space operations" had showed aircraft were prohibited from 10:30 a.m. to 2:27 p.m. across a swath extending from NASA's Kennedy Space Center south to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and eastward over the open Atlantic Ocean.

In addition, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and U.S. Coast Guard issued "hazardous operations" advisories off the Cape. A Space Launch Delta 45 spokesperson declined comment.

The U.S. Army released this March 3 photo from a multi-domain artillery battery practice operating the new Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) during Operation Thunderbolt Strike at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. 

“On Oct. 26, the Department of Defense planned to conduct a flight test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida to inform the Department’s hypersonic technology development. The flight test did not occur," the agency's statement said Thursday afternoon.

"The Department was able to successfully collect data on the performance of the ground hardware and software that will inform the continued progress towards fielding offensive hypersonic weapons," the statement said.

"Delivering hypersonic weapons remains a top priority for the DOD,” the statement said.

Mysterious launch advisories were similarly issued in March and September when the Department of Defense attempted to launch a hypersonic missile from the Cape on a flight test.

Crews stood down from the March 5 attempt after conducting pre-flight checks. A similar pre-flight scenario occurred during a Sept. 6 attempt.

Quelle: Florida Today