First High-Altitude Coyote Supersonic Target Vehicle Launched: "Orbital Sciences Corporation has announced that it successfully launched the 'High Diver' Coyote supersonic target vehicle from San Nicolas Island, California, validating its suitability for future high-altitude naval threat simulations and anti-missile response system tests.
The Coyote High Diver (or Coyote HD) vehicle was rail-launched from San Nicolas Island at about 9:00 a.m. PDT on 8 July 2010. During the exercise, the ramjet-powered Coyote HD ascended to an altitude of approximately 35,000 feet, where it reached a cruising speed of approximately Mach 3.3.
At the end of its 110 mile long flight, the vehicle executed a planned 40-degree unpowered dive to its objective point near the ocean's surface."
