Ever notice that, in Kung Fu movies, some larger number of bad guys will stand around in a circle, allowing the hero to kick their asses one-by-one? Outside of cinema, such accomodation by adversaries is rare. Yet, this seems to be happening with regard to impending crises in Iran and North Korea. Iranian officials are …
Physics 101: Boost Phase Missile Defense and the Shortfall Problem
by | 2004-12-03 | 1 Comment
Taylor Dinerman writing with a crayon over at The Space Review says: “In the case of boost-phase weapons, the debris will fall back on the nation that launched the missile.” Fall back? What kind of non-ballistic trajectory is that missile on? It’s called Newton’s first law of motion. Look into it. Whatever debris remains will …
Chinese SSBN launched … or not.
by | 2004-12-03 | No Comments
Bill Gertz reports that China has launched its new Type 094 SSBN. The story, however, doesn’t make much sense. Gertz claims that the “new Type 094 was spotted by U.S. intelligence agencies at the Huludao shipyard […], is in the early stages of being outfitted and is not yet equipped with new JL-2 submarine-launched nuclear …
Microsatellite Propulsion Experiment (MPX)
by | 2004-12-03 | No Comments
The Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL/PR) Propulsion Directorate recently held an industry day “to provide specifications for a micro satellite propulsion experiment- development, integration and test, command/control, and flight operations. [sic] The micro satellite propulsion system flight demonstration will include previously unproven flight operations.” An interesting collection of industry types attended the meeting. Rumor has …
