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This still amazes me. Being able to detect, aim at and strike something flying at the speed of a rocket - with another rocket - in outer freaking space. Even t
by harry 16y ago
This still amazes me. Being able to detect, aim at and strike something flying at the speed of a rocket - with another rocket - in outer freaking space.
Even the patriot missiles back in the early 90's always awed me. I have trouble hitting a target in a consistent spot with a bullet from 100 yards.
- arethuza 16y agoHere is a video of a Sprint ABM (from the 70s) being launched and passing close to a RV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZV464z9g8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZZV464z9g8
- leviathant 16y agoIf you had trouble consistently hitting targets, you would probably fit right in with Patriot missiles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIM-104_Patriot#Success_rate_vs._accuracy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIM-104_Patriot#Success_rate_vs...
- harry 16y agoHitting still targets is easy. Consistently hitting the same spot on a still target is difficult. What I'm saying is I'm impressed we can hit anything! Think about the margins of error involved - how precisely do you have to know the Patriot rocket's position, vector and speed to intercept something falling from space? How do you take into account the fragmentation issues of a device like a MIRV? How do you account for any differences in the target projectile's path? It's just an astounding problem to me. I very much dig the thought that I'm the same species as those that figured it out.
- rdtsc 16y ago> Being able to detect, aim at and strike something flying at the speed of a rocket - with another rocket - in outer freaking space. First and foremost, it is being able to convince your opponent that you can do that.
- SkyMarshal 16y agoSame. I've heard someone in the military describe it as trying to hit a bullet with another bullet.
- GHFigs 16y agoYou obviously didn't play enough Missile Command as a kid.
- dholowiski 16y agoSomewhat less amazing, because it doesn't really work other than in very controlled test conditions.