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LGM-30 Minuteman chronology

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(Redirected from Glory Trip)

This is a chronology of the LGM-30 Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), acquisition and operational.

First research activity that lead to the U.S. development of intercontinental ballistic missiles began in 1956. Specific research and development (R&D) on the Minuteman missile began in 1958. The system was fully operational in at least three United States Air Force (USAF) wings by 1965. By this time the Minuteman II had already reached the flight test stage.

Program chronology

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  • 1956
  • 1957
    • Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) improvements studies started
    • Minuteman configuration studies started
  • 1958
  • 1959
    • First R&D firing from silo - inert second and third stage
  • 1960
  • 1961
  • 1962
  • 1963
    • First wing turnover at Wing I, Wing II turnover
    • Force Mod program approved
    • First motor static test firing to verify reliability
  • 1964
  • 1965
  • 1966
  • 1967
  • 1968
  • 1969
    • Force Mod rate decrease
    • Force Mod at Wing I complete
    • Service Star testing began for RSs
  • 1970
    Minuteman III on display at Air Force Museum
  • 1971
  • 1972
  • 1973
  • 1974
    • Full Force upgrade silo approved
    • MK12A and Pave Pepper programs started
    • SSAS was deployed for Minuteman II
  • 1975
  • 1976
    • Upgrade silo and CDB completed at Wing III
    • Upgrade silo and CDB completed at Wing VI
    • Long range service life analysis performed for propulsion system
    • Hybrid explicit implemented for Minuteman III
    • Minuteman II MGS vibration test program initiated
    • New calibration schedule implemented to correct MGS startup transients
    • Minuteman II Stage 3 lot 16 motor igniters replaced
  • 1977
    • Minuteman III missile production terminated
    • Inertial performance data began to be collected for guidance system fault isolation
    • Began implementation of ILCS at Minuteman II wings
  • 1978
    • GIP implemented at Minuteman III
    • Thrust termination port investigation began
  • 1979
    • Minuteman II stage 2 motor remanufacturing program began to correct degraded liner/Minuteman III stage 3 degraded liner investigation initiated
    • USAF advisory board recommended that carbon-carbon nose tips be developed for MK12 RVs
  • 1980
    • Upgrade silo and CDB completed at Wing VI
    • Minuteman II accuracy/reliability investigation conducted
    • VRSA replacement design started
    • Diagnostic data package hardware delivered to provide re-entry/separation data for Minuteman II flights
  • 1981
    • MGS electronics investigation completed
    • Accuracy, Reliability, Supportability Improvement Program (ARSIP) program began
  • 1982
    • Minuteman III guidance upgrade program implemented
    • MK12A re-entry vehicle FOC
    • Special operational test program began - Minuteman II
    • Hardness critical items identified and procured
  • 1983
    • Minuteman III MGS vibration test program initiated
    • Special operational test program complete - accuracy improvements verified
  • 1984
    • Minuteman Extended Survivable Power IOC
    • GUP implemented for Minuteman III
  • 1985
    • Rivet MILE (Minuteman Integrated Life Extension) program began
  • 1986
    • LGM-118A Peacekeeper deployment initiated
  • 1987
    • Integrated Nuclear Effects Assessment (INEA)
    • ARSIP implemented for Minuteman II
    • Piece-parts manufacturing for diminished manufacturing sources
    • Rivet MILE began Improved Minuteman Physical Security System (IMPSS) installation
  • 1988
    • Minuteman III Stage 2 washout/Stage 3 replacement
    • Comprehensive reliability investigations conducted
    • Peacekeeper fully operational at Wing V
  • 1989
    • Rapid Execution and Combat Targeting (REACT) program initiated
    • Rocket Motor Transporter replacement
    • Code Change Verifier replacement
    • Transporter-Erector replacement
  • 1990
  • 1991
    • Minuteman II removed from SIOP
  • 1992
    • Minuteman II deactivation initiated
    • MESP discontinued
    • Rivet MILE completes IMPSS installation
    • SRV Program initiated
    • Rivet ADD initiated
    • Missile Transporter replacement
    • Missile Transporter (PT III) replacement
  • 1993
    • GRP contract awarded
  • 1994
    • PRP initial contracts awarded
  • 1995
    • REACT consoles begin deployment
    • Minuteman II deactivation complete
    • BRAC decision to close Wing VI by 1998
  • 1996
    • REACT deployment complete
  • 1998
    • Wing VI deactivation complete
    • Wing VI Minuteman IIIs moved to Wing I
    • AF awards ICBM Prime contract to TRW team for ICBM engineering
  • 1999
  • 2000
  • 2001
    • PRP deployment initiated
  • 2005
    • Peacekeeper deactivation complete[1]
  • 2007-08

Test launches

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Minuteman IA/B
Date System Location Nickname Note
1 Feb 1961 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS, LF-31A Serial 401
19 May 1961 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS, LF-31A
27 Jul 1961 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS, LF-31A
30 Aug 1961 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS, LF-32B
17 Nov 1961 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS, LF-32B
18 Dec 1961 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
5 Jan 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
25 Jan 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
15 Feb 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
8 Mar 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
22 Mar 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
24 Apr 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
11 May 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
18 May 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
8 Jun 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
29 Jun 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
12 Jul 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
9 Aug 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
18 Sep 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
19 Sep 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
17 Oct 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
19 Nov 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
7 Dec 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
14 Dec 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
20 Dec 1962 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
7 Jan 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
23 Jan 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
20 Feb 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
18 Mar 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
27 Mar 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
10 Apr 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
18 May 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
28 May 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
5 Jun 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
27 Jun 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
1 Jul 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
17 Jul 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
25 Jul 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
5 Aug 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
27 Aug 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
7 Nov 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
13 Nov 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
18 Dec 1963 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
16 Jan 1964 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
28 Jan 1964 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
12 Feb 1964 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
25 Feb 1964 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
27 Feb 1964 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
13 Mar 1964 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
20 Mar 1964 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
30 Mar 1964 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
7 Apr 1964 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
24 Apr 1964 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
29 Sep 1964 Minuteman I Cape Canaveral AFS
Minuteman II
Date System Location Nickname Note
24 Sep 1964 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
29 Sep 1964 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
29 Oct 1964 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
15 Dec 1964 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
18 Dec 1964 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
28 Jan 1965 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
7 May 1965 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
25 May 1965 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
3 Aug 1965 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
23 Aug 1965 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
24 Sep 1965 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
1 Oct 1965 Minuteman II Cape Canaveral AFS
13 Dec 1966 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 First Minuteman ERCS test
2 Feb 1967 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 Second Minuteman ERCS test
4 Aug 1970 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 GIANT MOON 1, GLORY TRIP 16L
22 Oct 1971 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 GIANT MOON 2, GLORY TRIP 40L
22 Mar 1972 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 GIANT MOON 3, GLORY TRIP 200L
26 Jul 1973 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 GIANT MOON 4
12 Mar 1974 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 GIANT MOON 5
22 Oct 1974 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 GIANT MOON 6
5 Sep 1975 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 GIANT MOON 7
26 Oct 1976 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 GIANT MOON 8
Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS)-assisted ICBM Launches
Date Designation System Location Note
3 Mar 1967 BUSY LOBBY Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 5 First ALCS-assisted launch
17 Apr 1967 BUSY MISSILE Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 08
28 Apr 1967 BUSY MUMMY Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 02
11 May 1967 BUSY FELLOW Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 21
25 Jan 1968 OLY TRIALS 7 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF 22
12 Mar 1969 GIANT FIST 3 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF 04
18 Apr 1969 SST M-3 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF 25
18 Jun 1969 GLORY TRIP 37B Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF 07
23 Jul 1969 GLORY TRIP 41B Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF 07
26 Aug 1969 GLORY TRIP 15F Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF 22
13 Oct 1969 GLORY TRIP 22F Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 24
21 Oct 1969 GLORY TRIP 45B Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 07
5 Dec 1969 GLORY TRIP 50B Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 07
23 Mar 1970 GLORY TRIP 63B Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 07
21 May 1970 GLORY TRIP 55F Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 25
8 Jun 1970 GLORY TRIP 72B Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 07
9 Jul 1970 GLORY TRIP 66F Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 24
3 Aug 1970 GLORY TRIP 61F Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 25
4 Aug 1970 GLORY TRIP 16L Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 05
26 Aug 1970 GLORY TRIP 43M Minuteman Vandenberg AFB, LF 05

GLORY TRIP Launches

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The USAF Follow-on Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) program for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) is designated Glory Trip.

Minuteman IA/B
Date System Location GT Number
Minuteman II
Date System Location GT Number
4 Aug 1970 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 16L
4 Feb 1971 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-04 60M
27 Feb 1971 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-04 80M
31 Mar 1971 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 82M
22 Oct 1971 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 40L
22 Mar 1972 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-05 200L
17 Apr 1973 Minuteman II Vandenberg AFB, LF-02 112M
Minuteman III
Date System Location GT Number
1978 Minuteman Vandenberg AFB 63GB
1978 Minuteman Vandenberg AFB 64GM
1978 Minuteman Vandenberg AFB 61GM
1978 Minuteman Vandenberg AFB 37GM
1978 Minuteman Vandenberg AFB 136M
1978 Minuteman Vandenberg AFB 133M-1
1978 Minuteman Vandenberg AFB 65GB
1978 Minuteman Vandenberg AFB 130M-2
1978 Minuteman Vandenberg AFB 38GM
27 Feb 1980 Minuteman III Vandenberg AFB 73GM
1982 Minuteman III Vandenberg AFB 88GM
31 Mar 1982 Minuteman III Vandenberg AFB 87GB
29 Mar 1987 Minuteman III Vandenberg AFB 120GB
25 Jun 1987 Minuteman III Vandenberg AFB 122GB-1
24 Jul 1987 Minuteman III Vandenberg AFB 123GM-1
31 Jul 1987 Minuteman III Vandenberg AFB 124GM
21 Dec 1987 Minuteman III Vandenberg AFB 119GM-1
21 Dec 1987 Minuteman III Vandenberg AFB 119GM-1

References

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