Re: Striking a Lunar target in the near future...
From: Derek Lyons (fairwater_at_gmail.com)
Date: 08/18/04
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Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2004 05:11:54 GMT
shermanlee1@hotmail.com (Johnny1A) wrote:
<snip handwaving scenario as to why this might be a good thing.>
>What I am wondering is: once the location was known, as a _practical_
>matter, how long would it take, and how difficult would it be, for the
>advanced nations to put a good-sized nuke on that site on the Moon's
>surface?
Less than a year for certain, closer than that it's hard to say. (At
least here in the US there is always at least one of the heavies
within a year of launch, you just commandeer it.) The big problem is
that while the guidance and reaction control systems are well
understood, they aren't off-the-shelf items. Given that the majority
of the effects of a nuclear weapon we are familiar with here are the
results of the interaction of radiation with the atmosphere, extreme
accuracy is definitely indicated, and that means active guidance and
control.
>No need to carry humans or make provision for return, it's a
>missile strike at a specific target on the Lunar Nearside. What would
>be the best _practical_ method, recalling the lives are being lost
>with delay?
There are two practical methods at launch time, with nothing obvious
(that I can see) to choose between them. The first is to launch into
a parking orbit and then depart for the moon, or to launch directly
for the moon.
For impact, I'd think a drop straight in would be the simplest.
>Also, would the nukes we currently use (not theoretical designs, in
>this scenario I'm taking about practical options for a near-future
>situation) be suitable for such a mission without modification?
Given that current nukes end up in free fall while in a ballistic
trajectory, and encounter some frightful G's at the start and end of
that trajectory, I cannot see a problem with the basic space
enviroment. You'll want to pay close attention to your fusing
however.
D.
-- Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.
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