4 ms·

Any tech that can send a 1 ton roadster to mars can crash a 1 ton roadster into Buenos Aires at 20,000mph

wongarsu 5y ago
Obviously. It all started as a way to drop bombs on London, and we are only now reaching a time where the majority of rocket models are not derivatives of ICBMs. Spaceflight is a story of a military technology finding civilian use. That has a very different ring to it than civilian technology being used as a weapon, even if the effect is similar.
foota 5y ago
Wouldn't the car disintegrate in the atmosphere?
- ac29 5y ago
  The car would obviously be a poor choice as a weapon. A big tungsten rod on the other hand... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment
Retric 5y ago
Air resistance limits small kinetic kill weapons. Square cube law however means it’s less effective for larger objects.
- iso1210 5y ago
  1 ton tungston rod wouldn't burn up.
  - Retric 5y ago
    A 1 ton rod would loose most of it’s kinetic energy on reintry. “A system described in the 2003 United States Air Force report[9] was that of 20-foot-long (6.1 m), 1-foot-diameter (0.30 m) tungsten rods that are satellite-controlled and have global strike capability, with impact speeds of Mach 10.“ That’s 1.725m2 of tungsten at 19,280kg/m2 = 33.2 metric tons and it’s still only doing Mach 10 on impact.
- trhway 5y ago
  just make the large object split into many small kill weapons not far from the target(s).
kongin 5y ago
A one ton roadster will burn up before it does anything, a large factory will not: >About once a year, an automobile-sized asteroid hits Earth's atmosphere, creates an impressive fireball, and burns up before reaching the surface. >Every 2,000 years or so, a meteoroid the size of a football field hits Earth and causes significant damage to the area. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/asteroids/overview/fastfacts.html https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/asteroids/overview/fastfa...
labster 5y ago
Think of the speeding ticket Elon will get.

Obviously. It all started as a way to drop bombs on London, and we are only now reaching a time where the majority of rocket models are not derivatives of ICBMs. Spaceflight is a story of a military technology finding civilian use. That has a very different ring to it than civilian technology being used as a weapon, even if the effect is similar.

foota 5y ago

Wouldn't the car disintegrate in the atmosphere?

ac29 5y ago
The car would obviously be a poor choice as a weapon. A big tungsten rod on the other hand... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment

Retric 5y ago

Air resistance limits small kinetic kill weapons. Square cube law however means it’s less effective for larger objects.

iso1210 5y ago
1 ton tungston rod wouldn't burn up.
- Retric 5y ago
  A 1 ton rod would loose most of it’s kinetic energy on reintry. “A system described in the 2003 United States Air Force report[9] was that of 20-foot-long (6.1 m), 1-foot-diameter (0.30 m) tungsten rods that are satellite-controlled and have global strike capability, with impact speeds of Mach 10.“ That’s 1.725m2 of tungsten at 19,280kg/m2 = 33.2 metric tons and it’s still only doing Mach 10 on impact.
trhway 5y ago
just make the large object split into many small kill weapons not far from the target(s).

kongin 5y ago

A one ton roadster will burn up before it does anything, a large factory will not: >About once a year, an automobile-sized asteroid hits Earth's atmosphere, creates an impressive fireball, and burns up before reaching the surface. >Every 2,000 years or so, a meteoroid the size of a football field hits Earth and causes significant damage to the area. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/asteroids/overview/fastfacts.html https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/asteroids/overview/fastfa...

labster 5y ago

Think of the speeding ticket Elon will get.