Statement of Need (SON) Positive Verification of Minuteman Missile Enable Coding
Abstract
The need exists to ensure missile launch control through correctly loading enable codes into the Minuteman ICBM missile with extremely high confidence. Proper installation of the enable code into the Minuteman missile is essential for missile launch. A need to verify enable code installation has arisen through recent detection of incorrectly coded command signals decoders - missile (CSD-Ms). On two occasions, CSD-Ms were found to contain the previous revision of the enable code. Examination of the equipment involved could not produce a definite fault or a design susceptibility that would allow undetectable failure of the CSD-M coding process. Personnel performance was examined and personnel error could not be positively proven. However, in one instance, personnel error is the most probable cause of incorrect CSD-M coding. Whatever the error source, once it occurs, the system cannot identify the error until another coding is attempted. Keywords: Computer program verification; Surface-to-surface missiles launching.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 10, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA200135