Missile Launches

We have performed several low altitude missile launches at our remote test site. The purpose of these launches has been to test the launch tube or the initial performance of the rocket motor or both. The rocket motor has a burn time just long enough for the rocket to clear the launch tube. During the burn the rocket produces the full thrust that would be generated in a burn of the complete rocket motor so that we test the launch tube integrity, the performance of the mechanical alignment system while the missile moves through the launch tube and the performance of the rocket ignition system and the initial burn of the motor.