[sci.military] Project Thor

argyriou@violet.Berkeley.EDU (Anthony Argyriou) (01/25/89)

The talk of Edward Teller and Lowell Wood about "intelligent pebbles"
sounds much like material I've read about Project Thor, aka Flying
Crowbars (5+years ago). The idea is to make a small, streamlined,
comuterized re-entry vehicle, which comes in and kills tanks, missile
launchers, silos (maybe), etc. 

In the current political climate, I doubt any such thing would be funded
by Congress. However, it sounds like a company like Nothrop, or one
even smaller, could develop a few different models on their own, do a
few demos with Congressmen watching, and sell it. Anyone know more
technical details? If you are _sure_ it is being done, shut up. If you
like the idea, and have something to add (ie, can it be controlled by
a person? What is in the way?), please do.

My basic question: is this a scientific problem, or an engineering problem?
Do we currently have the technology to put together something large,
clunky and expensive that works, or not? If we can, then it will soon be
small, sleek, and cheap. If we can't, why not?

Please, no argument about this being a potential first-strike weapon.
I know it is. I see nothing immoral about that. If you want to argue this
with me, send me e-mail directly, or tell me which newsgroup you are
posting it to. 

Anthony Argyriou