The Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is set to launch from the Southern California base between 11:01 p.m. Tuesday and 5:01 a.m. Wednesday.

"[Wednesday's] Minuteman III test launch is just one of the ways the Department of the Air Force demonstrates the readiness, precision, and professionalism of U.S. nuclear forces,” said Acting Secretary of the Air Force Gary Ashworth.

A United States Air Force team successfully launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The weapon was equipped with a single telemetered joint test assembly re-entry vehicle.

The test will launch an unarmed Minuteman III missile, of which 400 are in service at bases in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota, according to the Air Force. Weighing nearly 40 tons and propelled by three solid-fuel rocket motors, the missile travels at speeds reaching 15,000 miles per hour.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base near Lompoc could be seen in the skies over Santa Cruz Monday evening. The company launched 23 Starlink satellites from Pad 4E at

An unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base Wednesday, a test planned years ago to demonstrate the readiness of U.S. nuclear forces and provide confidence in the lethality and effectiveness of the nation's nuclear deterrent.