Mystery missile launched off California coast

[Xamindar]

A missile was launched last night off the coast of California and both the Navy and Air Force say it wasn't theirs.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/ ... 6716.shtml

Really strange that no one is claiming responsibility for this.

[Isaac]

Schools make rockets all the time. There was even this movie about kids making a rocket for a competition, done through research. It was called, \"Red October\" or \"October flies\" or something and was based on a true story. Anyway, I'll read the url eventually... I post first and read links later.

[Xamindar]

School make rockets all the time.

I doubt they make rockets this big and launch them from the ocean.

[CDN_Merlin]

Saw that on CNN. Very interesting. I'm sure someone will claim it as theres or the Gov't will say.

[Heretic]

Batman lunched Ironman into space.

[Isaac]

Batman lunched Ironman into space.

I almost swallowed my gum, laughing, after reading that.

[AceCombat]

Schools make rockets all the time. There was even this movie about kids making a rocket for a competition, done through research. It was called, "Red October" or "October flies" or something and was based on a true story. Anyway, I'll read the url eventually... I post first and read links later.

October Skies

[Spidey]

Private rocket test…what’s the big deal, maybe it was Virgin Galactic.

[Isaac]

Private rocket test…what’s the big deal, maybe it was Virgin Galactic.

Exactly! That's what I was trying to say, but ended up saying a bunch of other things instead.

[Xamindar]

Private rocket test…what’s the big deal, maybe it was Virgin Galactic.

There were no notifications to keep the air and sea clear at that time for the launch. If it was a private launch then they would be facing some very heavy charges for the oversight.

[woodchip]

Well if it is not a private launched or military launched missile, then what are we left with? Kinda chilling to think a foreign based sub got within 35 miles of our coast and fired off a missile just to prove they can. China has Diesel Electric subs that are some of the quietest running subs in the world:

\"An incident between a Chinese submarine and the U.S. Navy has caused the U.S. to take another look at our capability using old technology. A state-of-the-art Chinese Song Class submarine sailed within torpedo range of the U.S. Super Carrier USS KITTY HAWK during U.S. Naval exercises off the Chinese coast. U.S. Navy brass was completely outsmarted by the incident. \"


What if they are sending us a message?

[AceCombat]

VERY HEAVY charges..... and a nice fine and jail time possibly

[Grendel]

Hm, outside the territorial waters. If that missile didn't violate US airspace, well, the gov could protest at best.

[Isaac]

In the past if a country is in debt they risk being attacked by the lender... I don't think that would happen, yet our deficit continues to rise with no stop in sight!

[Grendel]

Mystery solved ?

[Xamindar]

Mystery solved ?

Interesting idea, but I don't think the jet plane was able to launch vertically out of the water. Also, jet planes don't have bright fire coming out of their base like the video shows, rockets do.

[Krom]

Interesting idea, but I don't think the jet plane was able to launch vertically out of the water. Also, jet planes don't have bright fire coming out of their base like the video shows, rockets do.

No, but the sun shining off the fuselage of the aircraft would be plenty bright and also that color at that time of day. Actually a rocket wouldn't even be that bright, the only reasonable explanation is a reflection off the side of a commercial jet. As for the angle, its all about perspective.

[dissent]

Alright, I admit it. It was me.

I ate something.



Gave me gas.

[Krom]

How many times have we told you to stay away from the beans! Get with it man, you almost caused World War III this time.

[Xamindar]

the only reasonable explanation is a reflection off the side of a commercial jet.

You really think that? Is the Pentagon or LAX so incompetent that they can't confirm Commercial Airliner flight plans cover this phenomenon? I would think that would be the first thing they would tell the news outlets so most people would stop speculating.

[Xamindar]

I saw a joke about this somewhere.
\"New Navy seamen ordered to get the Captain his mid-day meal and presses the \"Lunch\" button.\"

That cracked me up. I think it was on slashdot.

[Heretic]

The President of the United States: Oh, what's the point? It's a disaster.
[Goes to push a huge red button; all the advisors shout "Don't do it"]
Advisor Cole: That button launches all of our nuclear missiles!
The President of the United States: Then which button gets me a latte?
Advisor Wedgie: That would be the other one, sir.
[Points to an identical button next to the first one; The President pushes it and serves himself a cup of coffee]
The President of the United States: What idiot designed this thing?
Wilson: You did, sir.
The President of the United States: Fair enough. Wilson, fire somebody.
Wilson: Yes, sir, Mr. President.

[woodchip]

Coming soon! Lame cartoon aka TWA flight 800 proving what 400 people saw going up was really going down.

[Foil]

Mystery solved ?

Interesting idea, but I don't think the jet plane was able to launch vertically out of the water.

There's no video of anything coming out of the water.

There's only the trail leading to the horizon, which means it's unclear where the origin is (could be from the ocean, could be from a distant location over the horizon).

It's at least as reasonable an explanation as "super-secret military operation".

[Tunnelcat]

Here's a couple of contrail pictures that look very close to the mystery launch smoke trail. If one was standing at the right location and perspective, it would look just like a missile launch.

http://www.weatherquestions.com/What_ar ... trails.htm

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/at ... 0266.shtml

[Neo]

Schools make rockets all the time. There was even this movie about kids making a rocket for a competition, done through research. It was called, "Red October" or "October flies" or something and was based on a true story. Anyway, I'll read the url eventually... I post first and read links later.

October Skies

October Sky ^_~

That scene in the end of that moovy made me scared... I thought his dad was going to touch his butt. :P

[woodchip]

The problem with the airplane fuselage theory is the FAA says no flights were in the area at the time.

edit add:


\"But Doug Richardson, the editor of Jane’s Missiles and Rockets, examined the video for the Times of London and said he was left with little doubt.

\"It’s a solid propellant missile,\" he told the Times. \"You can tell from the efflux [smoke].\"

Richardson said it could have been a ballistic missile launched from a submarine or an interceptor, the defensive anti-missile weapon used by Navy surface ships.\"

I'd believe someone from Janes long before someone fromour military.

[VonVulcan]

Doesn't look like any jet contrail I have ever seen.
But it does look like a solid rocket trail though it seems a bit slow, wonder if the video is playing at normal speed.

[Grendel]

Mystery solved.

[Alter-Fox]

Wow, talk about lots of hype for nothing. (Not talking about this board specifically).

[woodchip]

Mystery solved.

Once again we will believe a blogger over a reputable expert.

[Foil]

Once again we will believe a blogger over a reputable expert.

"... likely a jet contrail, says expert"

[Ferno]

Update at 2147 GMT on Wednesday: The Pentagon says the contrail was caused by a plane. \"We have no evidence to suggest that this was anything other than a contrail caused by an aircraft,\" Pentagon spokesman Colonel David Lapan said

[Isaac]

Update at 2147 GMT on Wednesday: The Pentagon says the contrail was caused by a plane. "We have no evidence to suggest that this was anything other than a contrail caused by an aircraft," Pentagon spokesman Colonel David Lapan said

=
Alien spacecraft

I knew it.

[woodchip]

Once again we will believe a blogger over a reputable expert.

"... likely a jet contrail, says expert"

I'll raise your biased expert (as the pentagon has a reason to cover up) with the expert I posted here earlier:

"But Doug Richardson, the editor of Jane’s Missiles and Rockets, examined the video for the Times of London and said he was left with little doubt.

"It’s a solid propellant missile," he told the Times.

For those of you who don't know about Janes, they are the premiere source of all things military. Try googling.

Once again Ferny, nice try on parroting from a biased source.

[Flatlander]

Another link for contrail: http://uncinus.wordpress.com/2010/11/09/4/

[Flatlander]

Looks like the Daily Show got it:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episod ... mick-foley

There's an interview with the cameraman who filmed it for approximately 10 minutes - ain't no way that's a missile.

[Spidey]

10 minutes huh…that must have been a cruuuuuse missile…

[Ferno]

Once again Ferny, nice try on parroting from a biased source.

says the guy who sees a conspiracy in all this.

I'd believe someone from Janes long before someone fromour military.

yep, because people from the military have no idea what a missile looks like.


why do you believe in lies, woody?

[woodchip]

With all due respect Ferno, weren't you the one going on at one time about 9/11 being a conspiracy....a inside job? I am quite surprised that some of you here are actually believing the Pentagon over a outside source. Would you like for me to list a compendium of lies from the military starting with the enemy body counts in Vietnam to present day?

Do I see a conspiracy here? I see the possibility of a conspiracy, yes. The military is excellent at cya.