Re: OT: Wrap 'em in silver foil


Tosspot wrote:


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7531046.stm

Am I being stupid here[1], but a bit of reflective material seems to be
the order of the day.

[1] I am cunted.

Hmmm....

It only takes 11 minutes of rocket-motor burn to go into orbit; less
for an ICBM that doesn't use a 'bus' for the warheads, and which can
accelerate faster than a manned launch. In that time the launch has to
be detected (probably by infra-red satellite looking for the tell-tale
plume signature). This has to be verified (second satellite,
long-range radar) and passed on up the chain.

A decison is made to engage, and passed down the chain of command. As
a shooting down would count as an act of war (it not necessarily have
been declared yet, or the launch of interest be a direct threat),
doubtless this has to go all the way to the top, and the 'Fire' order
that comes down be verified by the crew(s) involved.

I'll take a bet that by this time the launch vehicle is nearing the
end of its boost phase, if not finished already, and the nearest laser
aircraft may not be within effective range anyway. Unless the sky is
full of laser aircraft, I'm not sure this is going to be a counter to
the e.g. road-mobile Russian Topol-M (where are they?)or the
submarine-carried Bulava (we don't know where they are either)(not yet
in service).

Other things that leap out from the BBC article;

"The high-energy weapon is a Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL)
capable of producing megawatts of power.

Built by defence giant Northrop Grumman, it is designed to destroy
"all classes" of ballistic missiles, including tactical ballistic
missiles (TBMs) and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

Its fuel consists of chemicals found in hair bleach and drain cleaner
- hydrogen peroxide and potassium hydroxide - which are then combined
with chlorine gas and water. "

So, if it's powered by hydrogen peroxide. potassium hydroxide, and
chlorine....where's the iodine come in? Answers to the BBC, please.

In case anyone thinks that things can't go wrong, open a beer and
watch the film Fail-Safe.

Failing that, there's always research on Colonel Petrov at
Serpukhov-15 to do; this looks like a good account. If you're ever in
Fryazino, look him up and buy him a beer:

http://www.unknownnews.net/savedtheworld.html



--
from
Kim Bolton
.

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