DATE=7/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=VANDENBERG MISSILE PROTEST (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264173
BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
Voiced At:
Intro: In California, protesters are trying to stop
the scheduled test of a missile defense system Friday
evening. The environmental group Greenpeace has
stationed a ship offshore, where part of the test
missile is expected to splash down. Mike O'Sullivan
reports protesters also say they have entered the
launch site, a claim that Air Force officials reject
as unlikely.
Text: A spokesman for Vandenberg Air Force Base says
weather conditions look good for the launch of a dummy
warhead aboard a Minuteman-two missile. Twenty
minutes later, a so-called "kill vehicle" will be
launched atop another missile from a remote point in
the Marshall Islands. If all goes well, the two will
collide high in space.
Protester Carole Gregory, a spokeswoman for
Greenpeace, says the organization is trying to block
the test with both on-shore and off-shore protests.
/// GREGORY ACT ///
We've been a very strong presence at front gate
of the Vandenberg Air Force Base, and in
addition to that, our campaign ship - the N-V
Arctic Sunrise - has entered the hazard zone
near Vandenberg Air Force Base. We also have
activists on foot who have entered the base
itself near the launch pad where the blast-off
is scheduled for 7:01 this evening.
/// END ACT ///
A spokesman for Vandenberg Air Force Base, Major John
Cherry, disputes the claim that protesters have
breached security, which he says has been intensified
for the missile test.
/// CHERRY ACT ///
It is highly unlikely during our current threat
condition that they could be on the base and not
be detected. Our security forces are on high-
alert, and the base is currently under threat
condition Bravo, which is the second of four
tiers of increased vigilance for the base.
// END ACT ///
The Air Force spokesman says the security level may be
increased as launch time approaches. The launch must
take place in a four-hour window between 7:01 and
11:01 Friday evening.
Protesters say the presence offshore of 23 Greenpeace
members in a Dutch-registered ice-breaker may also
stop the test because a booster from the Vandenberg
rocket will fall somewhere in its vicinity, 180-
kilometers offshore.
Air Force spokesman John Cherry says the presence of
the ship could delay the launch, but that is unlikely.
/// REST OPT ///
/// SECOND CHERRY ACT ///
Even if a vessel is in the area, what we call
the safety box, it's highly unlikely they're in
any danger at all from any falling debris from a
nominal (successful) launch. That is something
that the space lift commander will take into
consideration during the countdown tonight
before he makes a final go/no-go decision for
launch.
/// END ACT ///
This is the third of 19 scheduled tests of the
National Missile Defense system. The first test, last
October, was successful. The second, in January,
failed because of a malfunctioning sensor.
If the missile from Vandenberg Air Base successfully
hits its target, the impact at an altitude of 230
kilometers should completely destroy the test missile
and the interceptor. (Signed)
NEB/MO/ENE/JBM
07-Jul-2000 14:18 PM EDT (07-Jul-2000 1818 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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