dcn@ihuxl.UUCP (Dave Newkirk) (12/01/83)
What are the consequences of installing an ABM satellite defence? Three possibilities have already been mentioned: - the Soviets launch killer satellites to knock them out - they build more missiles to overwhelm our system - they build their own ABM system! The satellites I described contained 30-40 small missiles to intercept ICBM's in-flight. The missiles can also defend the satellite against other satellites, making them very secure. The second point would mean building a great number of missiles, which we could easily counter by launcing a few more satellites. The last point is what we wanted to originally - a coordinated effort to install a real defense against a nuclear attack. No one mentioned my own reservation against this plan: when we begin to launch our ABM satellites, the Soviets decide it's their last chance to use their missiles (the major part of their nuclear arsenal), declare our satellite launch an act of war, and fire their missiles! If you wish to continue this discussion, should we move to fa.arms-d? Dave Newkirk, ihnp4!ihuxl!dcn
phil@amd70.UUCP (Phil Ngai) (12/03/83)
Re satellites defending themselves:
What if I put up 500 1 pound rocks in the same orbit as you but
going in the reverse direction? That's a relative speed of
17,000 + 17,000 mph. Defend yourself against that!
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Phil Ngai (408) 988-7777 {ucbvax|decwrl|ihnp4|allegra}!amd70!phil