That's what struck me about the MIRV test photo the first time I saw it. Of course, the apparent straight lines are really just the far ends of very flat parab

That's what struck me about the MIRV test photo the first time I saw it. Of course, the apparent straight lines are really just the far ends of very flat parabolic curves. Unlike meteors, MIRV warheads are designed to make it to the ground (or the intended airburst location) undamaged and with a 50% probability of coming down within 100m of the target. Once released, the warheads have no maneuvering capability and follow ballistic trajectories, minimally distorted by the rapidly thickening atmosphere. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_independently_targetable_reentry_vehicle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_independently_targetab... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-V6MZlyCqE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-V6MZlyCqE (Animated depiction of MIRV flight)