chris@umcp-cs.UUCP (07/19/83)
<begin cynical mode> Hah! The *real* reason they've decided to push for space stations is because they're afraid the Soviets will beat us to it! <end cynical mode> However, it's not too bad of a means to a good end. - Chris -- In-Real-Life: Chris Torek, Univ of MD Comp Sci UUCP: {seismo,allegra,brl-bmd}!umcp-cs!chris CSNet: chris@umcp-cs ARPA: chris.umcp-cs@UDel-Relay
eric@aplvax.UUCP (07/19/83)
The real reason for the sudden administration interest is that Reagan is starting to think about how he wants his term in office remembered. What better way than an aggressive (hopefully non-militarily) space program? Eric Bergan ...!aplvax!eric
bstempleton@watmath.UUCP (Brad Templeton) (07/20/83)
We all recall how the Space Station in 2001 had both Russians and Americans on it. Why can't we be inspired by Clarke and do this now? Set up a purely scientific space station, and apportion sections to each spacefaring nation based on $ contributed. It is also possible, I would think, that the sections of the station could be secure so that people could do their secret research. Detente again, anyone? -- Brad Templeton - Waterloo, Ont. (519) 886-7304
rwhw@5941ux.UUCP (07/21/83)
I would assume that a space station would be the ideal place defense equipment that could easily destroy ICBMs. Therefore Reagan might not be so wrong in his thinking. Roy <insert "for" between place and defense> sorry.
geo@watarts.UUCP (07/22/83)
I like the idea of a multinational space station too. One additional advantadge, besides saving money, would be that it would prevent paranoia over what those guys were doing up there if you shared the same station. Cordially, Geo Swan, Integrated Studies, University of Waterloo (allegra||ihnp4)!watmath!watarts!geo
raf@hopd3.UUCP (07/29/83)
I saw a small paragraph hidden on a back page of our local paper the other day that sid the air force has succesfully used a laser to knock down a series of ten air to air missles travelling in the 2000 mph range. It went on to say that this system would not be effective against ICBMs because they go much faster - around 20,000 mph. Also range is a factor, so using a space station for the purpose of knocking down ICBMs is not feasable yet. It seems to me though that this is a giant step in a technology that may make nuclear weapons at long range obsolete. Let us hope, Ron Flannery
philb@shark.UUCP (Philip Biehl) (08/01/83)
Able to knock down ICBMs screaming down at 20,000 mph, saving us from nuclear holocaust, eh?? Did you ever think what such space based lasers could do to ground targets such as cities? X-ray, ultrviolet (ultraviolent), and infrared lasers can do just as terrible, if not worse, things to the human body as nuclear weapons. Not to mention particle beams. I don't see that these kind of space based weapons are any better that anything we have come up with so far.......... Waiting, Phil Biehl
student@nmtvax.UUCP (08/02/83)
The main way of the space stations "killing" ICBM's is by frying the crap out of the electronic circuits disabling its ability to detonate. Very few cities are so dependent on IC chips. Sincerely; Greg Hennessy ..ucbvax!unmvax!nmtvax!student
braddy@houxl.UUCP (08/03/83)
Yeah! What *would* it take to direct (even some) of our energy and $ into space stations for constructive purposes instead of yet another weapons system? The nuclear arms mess has gotten so out of hand that solving the problem means disposing of huge quantities of existing bombs, etc. No small job! If we'd to do something decisive about the lazers-in-space issue *before* they get them up there, maybe it would be an easier problem to solve. Or have they already begun and the recent publicity is but a way to further their cause? David.. ...houxl!braddy
els@CSvax:Pucc-H:pur-phy.UUCP (08/03/83)
Don't be ridiculous!!!!!! Directed energy weapons, even over 10K miles, won't cover an area much more than a few sq. meters. That is what makes them so difficult to use against ICBM's. To use such a thing against a city is absurd! Of course you might consider using them against aircraft, such as Air Force One!!!!!!! (That's making the only minimially absurd assumption that your weapon can punch thru the atmosphere!) els[Eric Strobel] pur-ee!pur-phy!els