Re: Fw: Weapons for Newtonian based FTIII

TEHughes@aol.com writes:
@:) 
@:) >> big enough lump of rock and ice, take a running start around
@:) >> the system and sling it on a collision course.
@:) 
@:) >I suppose from that perspective the only defence would be
@:) >proactive.  You'd have to go after the foe while they were still
@:) >setting up to launch. This would mean that sensors would have to
@:) >be very good.  Whatever, it doesn't sound like it would be a lot
@:) >of fun to play a side that has to sit in one place and accept its
@:) >fate when the other side got around to delivering it.

  I think it could be quite entertaining.  Remember that the side
"sitting in one place" and waiting for its doom is the ATTACKING side,
assuming high-quality sensors for the defenders.  Running your rock up
to a good velocity and getting it aimed just so is going to take some
time - time that the defenders can use to kill your attacking ships
and push your rock off course.	Think seige tower v. flaming arrow -
you're vulnerable until you actually get your attack underway.

@:) P.S. All space stations need attitude adjustment systems or after
@:) the 3rd hard dock the station would be spinning like a top!!!!

  Sure but how much manouverability does a space station need?	Very
little, actually.  They don't even need rocket engines, is how little
thrust we're talking about here.  Enough to duck a big rock?  Maybe,
maybe not.  I think I would try to go out and kill the rock rather
than take the chance.

@:) Rocks are planet killers pure and simple. It's the planetary
@:) gavity well that locks it into the final approach vector and holds
@:) it there despite random influences.

  Well, the nice thing about physics is that it works pretty much
anywhere.  If it's not moving (unpredictably), you can hit it with a
very moderately guided missile (whether rock or otherwise).  Throwing
rocks at a Earth from Mars orbit isn't going to be very effective, so
even for that you need a guidance system if you're planning on
actually hitting anything worthwhile.

-joachim