Death from Above

From the Article:
"The Pentagon is planning a new generation of weapons, including huge hypersonic drones and bombs dropped from space, that will allow the US to strike its enemies at lightning speed from its own territory.
Over the next 25 years, the new technology would free the US from dependence on forward bases and the cooperation of regional allies, part of the drive towards self-suffi ciency spurred by the difficulties of gaining international cooperation for the invasion of Iraq."

The story goes on explain how they'll be able to drop bombs on anywhere, within 2 hours. Oh, and because they're being dropped from space, you get that cool terminal velocity effect where something that isn't explosive still destroys everything in a city block. Gotta love Big Brother. :paranoid:

By Johnny at Jul 1, 2003 1:44 PM

When it reaches terminal velocity it's just not accelerating anymore.. not some magic that makes it more damaging..

By Spaze at Jul 1, 2003 1:50 PM

Indeed, but a 1,000LB rod of titanium is gonna yield a big hole.

Anyone feel like calculating the TV of a 1,000LB rod of titanium?

By Johnny at Jul 1, 2003 2:43 PM

Just plug in the numbers...

-Kevlar

By Kevlar at Jul 1, 2003 2:49 PM

Quote: from Spaze on 9:50 pm on July 1, 2003[br]When it reaches terminal velocity it's just not accelerating anymore.. not some magic that makes it more damaging..

I'm no science wiz, but, umm, it's not exactly magic. It's fairly basic high school physics, or should be. An object travelling at terminal velocity has the potential to inflict more damage than it would of prior to reaching terminal velocity. Course, alot depends on what's travelling and what it's hitting, but that doesn't change the underlying principles.

Thinking before posting is good.

By TAFKAR at Jul 3, 2003 12:01 PM

Terminal Velocity really only applys to things you just 'drop'.

Something launched from orbit or sub orbit would need to be propelled in some manner to have any really effective targeting capacity. As to terminal velocity, it isn't that much kenetic energy. take things that fall off aircraft, like those blue cubes of frozen shit that occasionally are reported to smoke trailer parks. They would be hitting at terminal velocity, and they weigh around 50 kilos or so, and all they do is trash a car or blast through a roof.

But, if you increase the velocity, things get really nasty. In theory you could have impacts from an orbital station that approach small metorite damage levels. Hell, just slam a 200 meter wide rock into a city.

The -real- question everone should ask is does the USA have the economy to complete such a project? And will this project survive the exit wound of Bush leaving power. My bet is that the cost of these sorts of things will just stop them from fully happening, that or the US will attempt to do this, and the debt load will catch up with the nation. Or maybe the international community will say 'hey, screw you'.

My hope is that Japan jumps in and races against the Americans, cause you -KNOW- a Japanese made mass distruction space based weapon will be -WAY- better than some crap made in the US...

By Iga at Jul 3, 2003 2:42 PM

If dropped within a certain range (I'd guess 30 miles or so) of a target, the targeting computer in the smart bomb could control the fins enough to direct it with very good percision. Air pressure physics works well without any power.

By Johnny at Jul 3, 2003 10:10 PM

Quote: from Iga on 5:42 pm on July 3, 2003[br]community will say 'hey, screw you'.
My hope is that Japan jumps in and races against the Americans, cause you -KNOW- a Japanese made mass distruction space based weapon will be -WAY- better than some crap made in the US...

My hope is that Japan builds a giant robot.

That shoots its fists.

Grendizer! Go!

By Murphy at Jul 3, 2003 11:15 PM

Yes, and while they're at it, it really ought to have panels that open in its chest and shoot out meteors. Or it should be able to walk on water, or at the very least, fly. Perhaps it will take the form of a giant building that will suddenly come to life and wreck a whole city.

And while they're at it, it would be nice if it was 2-dimensional, highly colorful animation.

By Athena at Jul 5, 2003 10:39 AM

All I want are frickin' sharks with frickin' lasers on their foreheads.

Or these designs would probablly suit my purpose equally as well.

Quote from the webpage, complete with illustration: The red jewel in the middle of his hat shoots lasers. The blue bit all around can shoot water. His hair can stab into people and shoot fire up. His nose can shoot bogies at people. His head is a triangle shape. His eyes can shoot slime. His beard can stab into people and shoot water. He's not a lazy monster. He has 6 arms his body is so big and fat the fire comes out of his belly. His hands can shoot stinky stuff - so stinky that people can't breath.

-Kevlar

By Kevlar at Jul 5, 2003 10:44 AM

The real question here is why is Kevlar looking at this kids homepage...

*coughs, and ducks and covers*

By Iga at Jul 8, 2003 2:57 PM

I did a google search for 'lasers outta his frickin' eyes' and this was one of the first results.

-Kevlar

By Kevlar at Jul 8, 2003 2:58 PM

Sure you did, Kev... Suuuuurrre you did... *patpat*

By Aikao at Jul 8, 2003 6:31 PM

-	JMo	6s	All death is certain.
-	Sivartas	11m	Busy training guard scorpions in the desert
-	Phexion	2s
-	RedProtokoll	1h
-	Emily	1h	I lost myself, in the dark charade.
-	QueenZombean	6m	Singing the song that doesn't end, yes it goes...
-	Wonderland	8s
-	prodoman	0s
-	Hivemind	6m
-	zxq	7m
-	Terrible_the_duck	2s
a	Mench	38s	Doing a bit of everything.
And 29 more hiding and/or disguised

Death from Above US-based missiles to have global reach

Death from Above
US-based missiles to have global reach