A Minuteman 3 missile test planned for early Wednesday morning at Vandenberg Air Force Base has been postponed, officials said.

The launch was set to occur between 2:01 and 8:01 a.m. Wednesday.

“The postponement of this mission will allow for the completion of ground testing prior to launching,” Vandenberg officials said in a very brief statement.

A new launch date is to be determined, officials said.

Vandenberg officials could not provide further details.

The Air Force tests Minuteman 3 missiles, which launch from underground silos on North Base, several times a year to collect data about the weapon system’s accuracy and reliability.

 Some 450 Minuteman 3 missiles sit on alert at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Minot AFB, N.D. and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.

The 576th Flight Test Squadron readied the missile for launch from Vandenberg, in conjunction with a task force from the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.

This was scheduled to be the last Minuteman test under Air Force Space Command as ICBM units are scheduled to moved into Global Strike Command. That move comes after a series of high-profile snafus involving both ICBMs and nuclear-capable bombers.

Due to the postponement of Wednesday’s launch, activists canceled a midnight protest against the launch at the main gate and this afternoon’s press conference planned by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation in Santa Barbara.

Nuclear weapon opponents speculated that the test might have been called off due to President Barack Obama’s visit to Japan and China and desire to not deal with questions regarding U.S. missile tests.

If this missile test isn’t reschedule before then, a Delta 2 rocket with a NASA satellite is set to be Vandenberg’s next launch Dec. 9.

November 17, 2009