Rocket Science

[cessna170bdriver]

Thought you folks might be interested in a REALLY COOL test we just did for the Missile Defense Agency. Click on the link below, then in the entry for 3 DEC 08, read the short PDF, then check out the VIDEO.

Miles

http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/html/mdalink.html

[lowNslow]

Very cool. What would this be used for? At first I thought it was shooting bullets but I guess those are the control thrusters?

[cessna170bdriver]

Very cool. What would this be used for? At first I thought it was shooting bullets but I guess those are the control thrusters?

The the ultimate intent of the system is to physically intercept multiple incoming warheads outside the atmosphere, similar to the system that took down that errant satellite recently. This vehicle will be deployed on a missile, then the main vehicle will in turn deploy smaller vehicles to maneuver into the path of the incoming warheads. The purpose of this test was to see how well the target camera, inertial measurement unit, flight computer, and thrusters all play together to track a target while the vehicle maneuvers. In the first video angle you can see a small blue light outside the building which is a simulated target. The 12 cannister-looking objects on the vehicle simulate the mass of the smaller vehicles (which have yet to be developed).

It does sound like an automatic weapon, but you are right; that is the pulsing of the bottom thruster. The thrusters are liquid-fueled, but cannot be "throttled"; they are either on or off.

Miles

[jaime72]

You don't have to eliminate us for watching this do you? It looks top top secret! If you do I saw George watch it earlier!

[cessna170bdriver]

You don't have to eliminate us for watching this do you? It looks top top secret! If you do I saw George watch it earlier!

In that case we'll be sending our thugs to Spicewood...

No, really, this is public-release video. The only thing different from what we've been doing for 20 years is the scale of the vehicle. This one is several times larger than any we've tested before.

Miles

[GAHorn]

[cessna170bdriver]

Try that when you and the other guy are coming at each other at 5-6 miles per SECOND!

Miles

[flyguy]

WHARDEY GO?

[W.J.Langholz]

You got WWWAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY to much time on your hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[flyguy]

You got WWWAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY to much time on your hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAH YAH HE NEED TU BE UP THAT WIT U SHOVIL SUM SNO HUIH?

[GAHorn]

[hilltop170]

Cool stuff Miles. Back in the late 1970's to early 1980's I had an opportunity to witness a similar demonstration of, I guess, the version 1.0 satellite multiple warhead kill system. It was at an LTV plant in Grand Prairie, Texas which is now Lockheed Martin and the device was spun up to some high rpm and dropped from the high bay ceiling. It used explosive devices to hold position and sounded very similar to your video. If I recall correctly, it stayed aloft for about 10 seconds and translated up, down, left, and right in response to movement of a target on the back wall. Its purpose was the same, to get in the way of an incoming warhead and cause a collision. We were not allowed to take pictures.

[W.J.Langholz]

I also watched the next vedio released on 5 Dec....unbelievable how fast those top hatches blow open.....wouldn't want to be standing close to them.