[117257] in Cypherpunks
RE: Orbital Weapons Platform [Off Topic]
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Trei, Peter)
Mon Aug 30 11:00:13 1999
Message-ID: <D104150098E6D111B7830000F8D90AE8E62A31@exna02.securitydynamics.com>
From: "Trei, Peter" <ptrei@securitydynamics.com>
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 10:37:52 -0400
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain
Reply-To: "Trei, Peter" <ptrei@securitydynamics.com>
> ----------
> From: BPM Mixmaster Remailer[SMTP:remailer@bpm.ai]
>
> In the 80's there was some sort of initative to create "Star Wars" an
> orbital defense initative to destroy potential nuclear warheads before
> they were launched or during launch in the upper atmosphere. Persuing a
> collection of old X-files episodes I found one dealing with the use of
> high intensity particle beams fired from said satellites. I think just
> from the power consumption needs this would fail due to limitations of
> solar power cells. Is there such a system in place? Is the current power
> technology sophisticated enough?
>
> ---terminal
>
One of the most frustrating things about the
Internet is the continual need to educate
the young on issues that have been discussed
to death.
Most of us on this list were around and sapient
while the Strategic Defense Initiative (aka SDI,
BMD, and 'Star Wars') was being worked on.
I'll say this once - if you want further data
go back to old issues of Scientific American, etc.
'The X-files' is *not* a reliable source of data.
What we heard in the unclassified realm included:
1. 'Smart/Brilliant rocks/pebbles/sand, etc' -
ie swarms of tiny, orbitally pre-positioned
interceptor rockets which killed by impacting
the target.
2. Lasers. There are other power sources besides
solar panels.
Chemically pumped free electron lasers (FELs).
Chemically pumped optical lasers.
Chemically pumped lasers use the energy radiated by
energetic reactions, such as H2 + F, to energize a
laser. They work till you run out of fuel.
Nuclear pumped X-ray lasers. Surround a small neutron
bomb with many, independently steerable carbon fiber
rods (think sea urchin). If an attack is underway, point
the rods at the targets, and set off the bomb. The
prompt gamma radiation raises the energy state of
the carbon atoms, which then lase along the axis of
the rod, producing a coherent blast of x-rays out
each end before the rod is destroyed by the blast. Of
course, you only get one shot per device. Edward Teller
was advocating this gadget.
Peter Trei
