Pendleton%UTAH-20@sri-unix.UUCP (07/12/83)
From: Pendleton@UTAH-20 (Bob Pendleton)
If the Soviets have actually developed a system that can be
launched from within the Soviet Union, go into orbit, deorbit on
command, use aerodynamic maneuvering to impact anywhere in the world
with pinpoint accuracy, and this system has enough payload to deliver
a 100kt bomb, then they would be very tempted to develop it as a
weapon system.
Why? because the cost of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier task force
is measured in multiples of billions of dollars. As a rough guess I'd
say that it would cost less than $100 million each to deploy this new
weapon. Its the castle versus cannon trade off. This would be a very
clever use of space technology to provide an economical reply to our
new large aircraft carriers.
As to the test versions having windows; perhaps they want to
photograph the leading edge during reentry or test a vision based
terminal guidance system?
Bob Pendleton
-------REM@MIT-MC@sri-unix.UUCP (07/14/83)
From: Robert Elton Maas <REM @ MIT-MC>
Date: 12 Jul 1983 0931-MDT
From: Pendleton@UTAH-20 (Bob Pendleton)
As to the test versions having windows; perhaps they want to
photograph the leading edge during reentry or test a vision based
terminal guidance system?
Or perhaps they just want to fool us into thinking their new
maneuverable weapon is just a small test-version of a manned shuttle.
Any way we can find out for sure?