Not exactly. The launch from Vandenberg on April 22 was an HTV-2, which appears to be a weapons test, but a non-orbital one. It was tested on a target in the

Not exactly. The launch from Vandenberg on April 22 was an HTV-2, which appears to be a weapons test, but a non-orbital one. It was tested on a target in the Marshal Islands. I don't believe the HTV-2 reaches space, and it certainly isn't orbital. It's described as a "hypersonic glider." Vandenberg AFB launches a lot of payloads for testing weapons, so launching another non-orbital weapons test is nothing new. They have regular launches of the Minuteman ICBM to test a missile-intercept system. If I recall correctly, the Minuteman is the target and we launch an intercept missile out of Alaska to pick off the Minuteman. So far, I believe they've all failed. The rest of the article is about a vehicle that does enter space and stays there for an extended period of time, and which may contain weapons. That's why it gets more attention. Here's a news story on the launch from Vandenberg: http://www.santamariatimes.com/news/local/military/article_7ef51f34-4f6c-11df-a60c-001cc4c03286.html http://www.santamariatimes.com/news/local/military/article_7...