The main purpose behind the US Army presence in the Marshall Islands is to support missile tests. These tests typically involve the launch of a booster from Vandenberg AFB in California. Boosters take about 26 minutes to reach the atoll, where they deploy their reentry vehicles (RV's). The white traces above indicate the path of two RV's as they crashed into the lagoon. Thankfully, they don't contain warheads. (6 Aug 03 / Mission GT-183)

Missions occasionally require the launch of a booster from Meck Island, about 15 miles north of Kwajalein. (27 Jan 04 / Mission IFT-13B)