Rocket Science

Oops!...We Didn't Do It Again

The Pentagon is 1 for 3 in its bid to build a missile shield. Things began unraveling even before the $20 million exoatmospheric kill vehicle left Kwajalein Atoll on Friday night, when the balloon decoy accompanying a mock warhead fired from California failed to inflate. Then, shortly after the launch of the interceptor, its final rocket stage refused to separate from the kill vehicle, dooming the mission. AIR FORCE LIEUT. GENERAL RON KADISH, who runs the military's missile-defense programs, monitored the test from inside a secure Pentagon conference room. His nervous energy soured into bitter disappointment as he watched the $100...

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