Great Mateo
27-11-2003, 04:03
Sidwell AFB, Great Mateo - Great Matean Associated Press
Riding on top of a 200 foot column of fire, a GM Eryn I heavy lift rocket took off from Sidwell AFB today, it's cargo valued at over $1 billion. On board was the first space-based section of the GM initiated GM\FEF Missile Defense Network. The launch comes less than nine months after the completion of Project Ember (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=92899&highlight=), another massive joint military project between GM and FEF.
Though currently only 1 satellite, the final plan calls for a series of 10 satellites that would be able to track and destroy ICBMs during their boost phase. Once alerted to the launch by reconnaisance satellites or radar, the satellites pivoting lasers will angle to face the the threat. A tracking laser would then be emitted, juding the targets speed, trajectory, and distance. Once this has been computed and the target is in range, a COIL (chemical oxygen iodine laser) would emit a burst targeted for the missile's midpoint, causing fuel and\or oxidizer in the missile to ignite and explode. By destroying the missile during its boost phase, the need to destroy MIRVs (Multiple Indepently targetable Reentry Vehicles) and the risk of radioactive fallout occuring over the home nation is eliminated. This new system will compliment the already completed ABL (Airborne Laser) program, which utilizes the same essential technology mounted on a Boeing 747 airframe.
Whereas the previous defense project, Project Ember, was met with much debate and controversy, the begining of this system has seemed to thrill citizens across the nation. "This is what they should have been working on from the beginning," says Beth McKnight, of the northern city of Kartha. "This is something the whole nation can benefit from, as well as our allies in Federation of the Eternal Flame, unlike Project Ember, which would only benefit the few million people who managed to get inside of it in the event of an attack."
The next launch is scheduled to be in 3 months.
Riding on top of a 200 foot column of fire, a GM Eryn I heavy lift rocket took off from Sidwell AFB today, it's cargo valued at over $1 billion. On board was the first space-based section of the GM initiated GM\FEF Missile Defense Network. The launch comes less than nine months after the completion of Project Ember (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=92899&highlight=), another massive joint military project between GM and FEF.
Though currently only 1 satellite, the final plan calls for a series of 10 satellites that would be able to track and destroy ICBMs during their boost phase. Once alerted to the launch by reconnaisance satellites or radar, the satellites pivoting lasers will angle to face the the threat. A tracking laser would then be emitted, juding the targets speed, trajectory, and distance. Once this has been computed and the target is in range, a COIL (chemical oxygen iodine laser) would emit a burst targeted for the missile's midpoint, causing fuel and\or oxidizer in the missile to ignite and explode. By destroying the missile during its boost phase, the need to destroy MIRVs (Multiple Indepently targetable Reentry Vehicles) and the risk of radioactive fallout occuring over the home nation is eliminated. This new system will compliment the already completed ABL (Airborne Laser) program, which utilizes the same essential technology mounted on a Boeing 747 airframe.
Whereas the previous defense project, Project Ember, was met with much debate and controversy, the begining of this system has seemed to thrill citizens across the nation. "This is what they should have been working on from the beginning," says Beth McKnight, of the northern city of Kartha. "This is something the whole nation can benefit from, as well as our allies in Federation of the Eternal Flame, unlike Project Ember, which would only benefit the few million people who managed to get inside of it in the event of an attack."
The next launch is scheduled to be in 3 months.