The military successfully launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in Southern California to test and show off US nuclear capabilities. The Minuteman III missile lit up the late night sky after it was launched at the Vandenberg Space Force Base — about 150 miles from Los Angeles — around 1 a.

" 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.

The U.S. Air Force testing group responsible for evaluating ground-based nuclear weapon systems launched an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile from California early Wednesday.