3 ms·

If it's in the boost phase, it's over the enemy's country. If it's in reentry, it's only the RV (Reentry Vehicle). So some kg of Uranium or Plutonium gets scatt

If it's in the boost phase, it's over the enemy's country. If it's in reentry, it's only the RV (Reentry Vehicle). So some kg of Uranium or Plutonium gets scattered about, but that's it. Much better than vaporizing half a city.

Retric 2y ago
Light might in theory reach an ICBM in boost, but anything you launch is going to need to go through its own acceleration phase to possibly hit the ICBM. Further your ignoring submarines and early proximity detonation on the nukes. The most likely result of building such a system is an early nuclear EMP clearing orbit before the nukes get through anyway.
- throw9474 2y ago
  The NAS study seems to think kinetic interceptors can reach the booster in minutes but yes it requires a kick stage for the delta V.
  - Retric 2y ago
    That seems optimistic in any sort of realistic scenario. The everything works perfectly and there’s one ICBM and nobody modifies anything as we start launching all this stuff into orbit, then maybe. How many satellites do you need to reach that kind of coverage? And how many interceptors per satellite to hit everything from one or more nuclear subs launching from the same location near a major city. How long does it take you to react without risking false positives making the system useless etc. The problem just gets ugly fast.
    - forgot-im-old 2y ago
      That study said 1600 satellites are needed in a Delta Walker configuration (same as Starlink, but Starlink has more satellites already). The number of interceptors per satellite was unclear but this USAF captain said "composite rocket motor and micro-missile system capable of fielding a rocket pod of 100 interceptors at a cost of approximately $60,000 per micro-missile" https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Wild-Blue-Yonder/Article-Display/Article/2673038/cots-and-space-based-missile-defense/ https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Wild-Blue-Yonder/Article-Di...

Retric 2y ago

Light might in theory reach an ICBM in boost, but anything you launch is going to need to go through its own acceleration phase to possibly hit the ICBM. Further your ignoring submarines and early proximity detonation on the nukes. The most likely result of building such a system is an early nuclear EMP clearing orbit before the nukes get through anyway.

throw9474 2y ago
The NAS study seems to think kinetic interceptors can reach the booster in minutes but yes it requires a kick stage for the delta V.
- Retric 2y ago
  That seems optimistic in any sort of realistic scenario. The everything works perfectly and there’s one ICBM and nobody modifies anything as we start launching all this stuff into orbit, then maybe. How many satellites do you need to reach that kind of coverage? And how many interceptors per satellite to hit everything from one or more nuclear subs launching from the same location near a major city. How long does it take you to react without risking false positives making the system useless etc. The problem just gets ugly fast.
  - forgot-im-old 2y ago
    That study said 1600 satellites are needed in a Delta Walker configuration (same as Starlink, but Starlink has more satellites already). The number of interceptors per satellite was unclear but this USAF captain said "composite rocket motor and micro-missile system capable of fielding a rocket pod of 100 interceptors at a cost of approximately $60,000 per micro-missile" https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Wild-Blue-Yonder/Article-Display/Article/2673038/cots-and-space-based-missile-defense/ https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Wild-Blue-Yonder/Article-Di...