Orbital missile bases? Possible or not?

[Stronk Serb]

I was reading through the scraped up information about project Van Buren, the cancelled Fallout 3. To finish the game you had to go to the B.O.M.B-1 (Ballistic Orbital Missile Base 1), a space station outfited with ballistic nuclear missiles, and destroy it.and prevent a new nuclear holocaust. Now is it pissible to build, manage and use? I think it is, but risky, since if a missile jams or fires off while in the pod, the whole station would de-orbit and crash, and help is days away at least. In the best-case scenario, the station would explode ruining/detonating other warheads an radioactive debris will fall down.

[Capto]

Newton's Third Law would certainly make it a challenge, though it might be possible to use a system similar to a recoilless gun. Also note that the missile would almost be forced to employ a rocket engine, again due to Newton's Third Law.

[World Eater]

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2004-06/rods-god

They showed this in Tom Clancy's EndWar video game. Pretty cool, altho I wouldn't want this to be made.

[Capto]

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2004-06/rods-god

They showed this in Tom Clancy's EndWar video game. Pretty cool, altho I wouldn't want this to be made.

Quite an interesting concept, but that's not an space-based missile base, is it? It must stay within the reaches of Earth's gravity to function property, and its projectiles aren't self-guided or self-propelled.

Though it's a very interesting concept, I must say.

[World Eater]

Quite an interesting concept, but that's not an space-based missile base, is it? It must stay within the reaches of Earth's gravity to function property, and its projectiles aren't self-guided or self-propelled.

Though it's a very interesting concept, I must say.

Yeah I just put it out there :P

[Stronk Serb]

Newton's Third Law would certainly make it a challenge, though it might be possible to use a system similar to a recoilless gun. Also note that the missile would almost be forced to employ a rocket engine, again due to Newton's Third Law.

To maximize the effectivness of the base, it will not be geostationary, which means if it will have a larger orbit, the problem is, what if solar radiation detoriates the circuits and one missile fires off? I know that most if not all electronic appliances are detoriating rapidly of in a strong radioactive field.

[MisterSix]

Just make it a small satellite and use RCS to turn it so the missiles are parallel with the planet, so the orbit would widen a shit load if one or more missiles fired accidentally.

The biggest issue would be de-orbiting it with accuracy

[Human]

I don't think it would be good to weaponize space until aliens invade really...

[Walter Powers]

For awhile Reagan was pushing for space based lasers; that actually sounds practical nowadays. This however, I really don't know.

[Kameraden]

It's certainly possible, but it's forbidden by international law.

[Stronk Serb]

I don't think it would be good to weaponize space until aliens invade really...

Yeah it is not a good idea, but do you think it's doable?

For awhile Reagan was pushing for space based lasers; that actually sounds practical nowadays. This however, I really don't know.

Space lasers? The problem is, the satelite or station will have to face the target, with this, you can theoretically hit a target while above the oppositte side of Earth.

It's certainly possible, but it's forbidden by international law.

That treaty signed by the US and the Soviet Union? It prohibits militarization of all celestial bodies. I heard the US wanted to make a base on the Moon manned by 22 airmen, but gave up since it had no purpose and due to logistical problems.

[Human]

Yeah it is not a good idea, but do you think it's doable?



Space lasers? The problem is, the satelite or station will have to face the target, with this, you can theoretically hit a target while above the oppositte side of Earth.



That treaty signed by the US and the Soviet Union? It prohibits militarization of all celestial bodies. I heard the US wanted to make a base on the Moon manned by 22 airmen, but gave up since it had no purpose and due to logistical problems.

Most likely it's possible. If you've ever watched the new iron man (i think) there is a satellite which fires tungsten rods into the earth. A real life 'project thor' was conceived where the rods would have the equivalent of about 11 tons of tnt, but could strike anywhere quicker than aircraft.