Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site poseidon.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!drutx!mtuxo!pegasus!phoenix!poseidon!brent
From: brent@poseidon.UUCP (Brent P. Callaghan)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Antisatellite weapon effectiveness
Message-ID: <1273@poseidon.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 25-Aug-85 22:17:06 EDT
Article-I.D.: poseidon.1273
Posted: Sun Aug 25 22:17:06 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 27-Aug-85 02:15:44 EDT
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft NJ
Lines: 28

We are informed that the latest example of U.S.
military technology is to be tested within the
next two weeks.  This two stage, 18 ft long,
air-launched missile delivers its payload directly
to the enemy satellite at over 500 miles/minute.
The payload, only 13" long and 12" diameter
homes in on the infra-red radiation emitted
from the target using tiny steering rockets.
It contains no explosive, using sheer kinetic 
energy alone to destroy the victim.

I'm sure it would punch a nice hole in
a compact satellite and surely disable it.
By compact satellite, I mean one of those rotating
barrel things, covered in solar cells.
Its effectiveness against a "distributed" satellite
would be another matter.  A 12" diameter hole in
a large solar array would reduce the available
power somewhat, but nothing more.
Enemy satellites could even have an infra-red
emitter of some sort hanging out on a boom to
misguide such expensive cannonballs.
-- 
				
Made in New Zealand -->		Brent Callaghan
				AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft, NJ
				{ihnp4|mtuxo|pegasus}!poseidon!brent
				(201) 576-3475