US military launches unarmed nuclear missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base

美军从范登堡太空军基地发射非武装核导弹

The U.S. military test launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile in a routine exercise to maintain the readiness of its nuclear arsenal.

此次美军试射是在例行演习中发射了一枚非武装洲际弹道导弹，以维持其核武库的战备状态。

The test flight, known as Glory Trip 254, saw an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch from Vandenberg Space Force at 1:35 a.m. Pacific Time (0635 GMT) on Wednesday (Nov. 5). Like all ICBMs, the missile briefly left Earth's atmosphere during flight.

这次名为Glory Trip 254的试飞于太平洋时间周三（11月5日）凌晨1点35分（格林威治标准时间0635）从范登堡太空部队发射了一枚非武装“民兵3”洲际弹道导弹（ICBM）。与所有洲际弹道导弹一样，该导弹在飞行过程中短暂离开了地球大气层。

The Minuteman III traveled 4,200 miles (6,760 kilometers) west before impacting in a designated range in the U.S. Army's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, located in the Marshall Islands.

民兵III向西行驶了4,200英里（6,760公里），然后在位于马绍尔群岛的美国陆军罗纳德·里根弹道导弹防御试验场的指定范围内撞击。

The test launch was overseen by the U.S. Air Force's Global Strike Command (AFGSC), and involved AFGSC personnel from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron triggering the ICBM's launch while flying aboard a U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft using what is known as the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS).

此次试射由美国空军全球打击司令部（AFGSC）监督，来自第625战略作战中队的AFGSC人员在乘坐美国海军E-6B水星飞机时使用所谓的机载发射系统触发了洲际弹道导弹的发射控制系统（ALCS）。

Officers with the squadron who oversaw the launch say the test was about much more than simply testing a missile. "GT 254 is not just a launch — it's a comprehensive assessment to verify and validate the ICBM system's ability to perform its critical mission. The data collected during the test is invaluable in ensuring the continued reliability and accuracy of the ICBM weapon system," said Lt. Col. Karrie Wray, commander of Vandenberg's 576th Flight Test Squadron, in a U.S. Space Force statement.

负责监督发射的中队军官表示，这次测试不仅仅是测试导弹。“GT 254不仅仅是一次发射——这是一次全面的评估，旨在验证和确认洲际弹道导弹系统执行其关键任务的能力。测试期间收集的数据对于确保洲际弹道导弹武器系统的持续可靠性和准确性非常宝贵，”范登堡第576飞行测试中队指挥官卡里·雷中校在美国太空军声明中说。

The U.S. military is actually phasing out the Minuteman III ICBM. By 2030, the United States' nuclear missiles will be replaced the LGM-35 Sentinel, currently being developed by Northrop Grumman. But maintaining the current inventory Minuteman III remains a "top priority" for AFGSC, according to the Space Force's statement.

美国军方实际上正在逐步淘汰民兵III洲际弹道导弹。到2030年，美国的核导弹将被诺斯罗普·格鲁曼公司目前正在开发的LGM-35哨兵导弹取代。但根据太空军的声明，维持目前的民兵III库存仍然是AFGSC的“首要任务”。

"As we modernize to the Sentinel weapon system, we must continue to maintain the readiness of the existing Minuteman III fleet. GT 254 helps fulfill that commitment, ensuring its continued accuracy and reliability," said Gen. S.L. Davis, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.

“随着我们对哨兵武器系统进行现代化改造，我们必须继续保持现有民兵III机队的战备状态。GT 254有助于履行这一承诺，确保其持续的准确性和可靠性，”空军全球打击司令部司令S.L.戴维斯将军说。

In October, President Trump directed the U.S. Department of Defense to resume nuclear weapons testing after a 33-year pause. The last U.S. test took place in Nevada in 1992. The world's other two military superpowers, China and Russia, haven't carried out tests since 1996 and 1990, respectively (while Russia was still a part of the Soviet Union).

10月，特朗普总统指示美国。国防部将在暂停33年后恢复核武器试验。美国上一次试验于1992年在内华达州进行。世界上另外两个军事超级大国，中国和俄罗斯，分别自1996年和1990年以来就没有进行过试验（当时俄罗斯还是苏联的一部分）。

Intercontinental ballistic missiles are essentially rockets that are designed to fall back to Earth. They are built to fly above Earth's atmosphere before arcing back to the surface on unpowered, ballistic descents. Most ICBMs can reach distances over 3,400 miles (5,500 kilometers), and some are capable of deploying multiple independent reentry vehicles that carry nuclear warheads.

洲际弹道导弹本质上是设计为落回地球的火箭。它们被设计成在地球大气层上方飞行，然后在无动力的弹道下降中电弧返回地表。大多数洲际弹道导弹的射程可超过3,400英里（5,500公里），有些能够部署多个携带核弹头的独立再入飞行器。

The first ICBMs appeared during the Space Race. The Soviet Union launched the world's first ICBM in 1957, the same year it launched Sputnik, the world's first satellite, into orbit using many of the same rocket technologies.

第一批洲际弹道导弹出现在太空竞赛中。苏联于1957年发射了世界上第一枚洲际弹道导弹，同年，它使用许多相同的火箭技术将世界上第一颗卫星Sputnik送入轨道。

Months later, the United States launched its first ICBM, using the same rocket family that would go on to launch its first astronauts to orbit with NASA's Project Mercury.

几个月后，美国发射了第一枚洲际弹道导弹，使用的是美国宇航局水星计划将第一批宇航员送入轨道的同一火箭家族。