NationStates Jolt Archive

below is a minute of the international conference Archduke Valentino Delacroix unveiled his plans.

"Leaders of Nationstates, as you will no doubt be aware, We live in a turbulent time, borders, are constantly shifting, wars rage on over territories belonging to nations that yesterday we didn't even know existed, there is widespread use of weapons of mass destruction and it seems every two-bit tinpot madman worth his privet moustache has a nuclear arsenal. So with this in mind, we plan to launch into a geostationary orbit an orbital satellite laser to defend our sovereign state from attack"

*Mumbling*

"Now, you may well scoff, but the technology is already out there, being billed as "failed attempts" because of it's need for a large size and the unpredictability at attempted power sources. Well we propose to use it on a much grander scale than "phasers" and "ray guns". well if a laser to be effective it needs it's own nuclear power station then that's exactly what it's going to get. As a side project we are also developing a method for it to carry good old ICBM's in case we just don't have the time to waste half the day waiting for this thing to float over enemy territory. Now, i'm going to open up the floor for questions. You there in the press hat,:-"

(ooc: that's it? no threats? no kudos? no collossal roars of "Godmod"?)

nope....simply, good-bloody-luck! :P

You might want to put some point defence guns on it. It would suck to lose an expensive piece of equipment like that to a simple missile attack.

thanks for the advice, any idea on how to build such guns? powder doesn't work in space and whathaveyou, would sealing the rounds vacuum-tight with oxygen in them work?

Magnetic accelerators, wouldn't have to be very large, just enough to give the projectiles a decent velocity.

We have a system like this, except it's more powerful, holds ships, and projects a field around the planet. Try Anti-Gravitons for propelling stuff.

Well for point defence you coudl always use smaller lasers or a small missile system.


Anyway...

The Kingdom of Crookfur officially decries the use of the earth's orbit as a location for positioning of strategic offensive weapons, we hasten to point out that the Crookfur orbital SDI isntallations are purely of a defensive nature and are not a threat to anyone.

we ask that those concerned would please refrain from pointing out that a DEW capable of destroying an ICBM during the 1st 30 seconds of the boost phase would actually be able to destroy lots of stuff on the ground

if i help, do i get some? sounds good to me.

ICBMs will burn up on re-entry, though.

thanks for the advice, any idea on how to build such guns? powder doesn't work in space and whathaveyou, would sealing the rounds vacuum-tight with oxygen in them work?

Gauss rifles work quite well in a vacuum. In fact we already have an extensive network of gauss ortillery. You should look into that.

we plan on encasing them in a devise not unlike a thermos flask, and of course the manditory heat-resistant tiling

thanks for the advice, any idea on how to build such guns? powder doesn't work in space and whathaveyou, would sealing the rounds vacuum-tight with oxygen in them work?

Gauss rifles work quite well in a vacuum. In fact we already have an extensive network of gauss ortillery. You should look into that.

gauss?

We have a weapon in space. Pandora's Box with 300 nuclear missiles on it.
We would be willing to use it in your defense if you reciprocate with this laser defense sat of yours.
This way you can save money by not having to buy missiles and concentrate on building the reactor to make this thing work.

if i help, do i get some? sounds good to me.

ICBMs will burn up on re-entry, though.

not really, a number of ICBMs actually go extra atmospheric during thier flight...

if i help, do i get some? sounds good to me.

ICBMs will burn up on re-entry, though.

not really, a number of ICBMs actually go extra atmospheric during thier flight...Pandora's Box has ICBM's. Why put ICBM's up there when there are already some up there.
The offer to let you use Pandora's Box remains open unless you specifically reject it.

ummm, ok what on earth are u talkin about?????????

ummm, ok what on earth are u talkin about?????????

dontya mean what in orbit? **nerdy giggle** NI! NI! NI!

Well we already have some ICBM sized missiles up in geo sync above our nation but they are filled with AAMs (based on Ferrussia's ICBSAMs) as part of our 1st gen SDI.

The reason ICBMs go extra atmospheric is that for full intercontinetal rnage with a ballaistic tragectory then you have to go into space at soem point (and hence why most ICBMs are very similar to space launching rockets).

ummm, ok what on earth are u talkin about?????????
Who are you talking to?

Pandora's Box has been in earth orbit for one RL year.

having never encountered the nation of whitter before, we are unable to determine whether our politics are compatable, so we regretfuly reject this kind offer at this time

Well we already have some ICBM sized missiles up in geo sync above our nation but they are filled with AAMs (based on Ferrussia's ICBSAMs) as part of our 1st gen SDI.

The reason ICBMs go extra atmospheric is that for full intercontinetal rnage with a ballaistic tragectory then you have to go into space at soem point (and hence why most ICBMs are very similar to space launching rockets).
ICBSAMs ?

Inter Continetal Ballistic Surface to Air Missiles

Basically ICBMs converted to launch upto 20 short rnage (sidewinder/AA-11 style) AAMs. basically a stop gap massed anti missile defense system.

The underlings of the Glorious Overlord 'Eater of Worlds' already have a presence in what is now being termed 'the space weapons race'. Indeed, our unit of longbow-equipped archers was jetisonned into orbit three of your puny earth months ago.

While we have had no reply from the archers since that time, we assume it is because they wish to remain stealthed.

Inter Continetal Ballistic Surface to Air Missiles

Basically ICBMs converted to launch upto 20 short rnage (sidewinder/AA-11 style) AAMs. basically a stop gap massed anti missile defense system.

wow. freaking genius... do you have any available to purchase?

Nope the idea is ferrussia's you should try digging through the various shopfront directories (under the big list of directories sticky) to find his shopfront, or TG him

The underlings of the Glorious Overlord 'Eater of Worlds' already has a presence in what is now being termed 'the space weapons race'. Indeed, our unit of longbow-equipped archers was jetisonned into orbit three of your puny earth months ago.

While we have had no reply from the archers since that time, we assume it is because they wish to remain stealthed.

**millions of years into the future**

The arrows launched by the dying archers as a final salute have traversed further than man has ever gone into space, a few are lost in an asteroid field, but one soldiers on, and hits some kind of wormhole, and is catapulted back through time and space to the sixties, near the moon of some blue planet in a galaxy named after a freaking candy bar.

"This is one small step for man, " *beep* "One giant leap for **Thunk** OHMYFUCKINGLORD! MY EYE! AN ARROW! WHAT THE FUCK IS AN ARROW DOING IN SPACE! MAYDAY MAYDAY, WE HAVE ALIENS WITH BOWS, REPEAT, SOME KIND OF ROBIN HOOD MOONMAN IS FIRING ON US!"

The underlings of the Glorious Overlord 'Eater of Worlds' already has a presence in what is now being termed 'the space weapons race'. Indeed, our unit of longbow-equipped archers was jetisonned into orbit three of your puny earth months ago.

While we have had no reply from the archers since that time, we assume it is because they wish to remain stealthed.

**millions of years into the future**

The arrows launched by the dying archers as a final salute have traversed further than man has ever gone into space, a few are lost in an asteroid field, but one soldiers on, and hits some kind of wormhole, and is catapulted back through time and space to the sixties, near the moon of some blue planet in a galaxy named after a freaking candy bar.

"This is one small step for man, " *beep* "One giant leap for **Thunk** f---! MY EYE! AN ARROW! WHAT THE f--- IS AN ARROW DOING IN SPACE! MAYDAY MAYDAY, WE HAVE ALIENS WITH BOWS, REPEAT, SOME KIND OF ROBIN HOOD MOONMAN IS FIRING ON US!"
OOC:LMAO

gauss?

Yes, gauss. Magnetically-propelled projectile. It's a step up from a rail gun. Explination:

Usually, the projectile is propelled through a small explosion, started by the firing pin located at the end of the barrel. This system made created a lot of friction between the projectile and the barrel, reducing the projectile speed. Also, the projectiles charged small amounts of explosive, creating ammunition affected by heat and direct hits. The RailGun system tried to solve this problem with a series of electromagnetic sectors and a projectile (electromagnetically charged oppositely). This system removed the friction and the problems related with the explosions, as the projectile became a big piece of metal. The study of this system was suspended due to the problems related with the power source.

Modern day Gauss cannons are the direct evolution of this system. Gauss rilfes use the same system to propel the projectile, a nickel-ferrous slug, and uses a series of capacitors to power the weapons. Thanks to the near endless power that a fusion reactor provides, these capacitors can be charged infinetily.

The projectlie coming from the ammo bin is introduced to a loading chamber, where the specific mechanism place the shell in the first section of the weapon's long barrel. The loading chamber (and the rest of the weapon) is divided from the barrel by a diaphragm. This diaphragm opens to let the passage of the shell, then seals the barrel to discharge the projectile. As described above, the projectile is moved by electromagnetic force, rather than the usual charge of gun powder. The barrel is composed by a series of electromagnetically charged sectors and isolation areas between these sectors; turned on and off progessively (starting from the innermost sector to the outer one), the sectors propel the shell toward the barrel nozzle. Without friction and other slowdowns, the projectile can achieve a speed of mach 5 or greater in an atmosphere.

These sectors are powered by a series of capacitors placed behind the loading chamber. A power line starts from the capacitors to the barrel, where a ring, called a power ring, collects the energy and passes it to the four power lines encircling the barrel; the barrels are named with the four cardinal points, north, south, west and east, due to their placement. The capacitors are connected to the main power line from the reactor. Due to the high amounts of power required by the capacitor, the power line of the Gauss cannon is unusually large for a ballistic weapon.

The final part of the cannon is composed by the coolant circuit and recoil absorbing system. The recoil system is the only piece of machinery that generates a large amount of heat, and thus is the only part connected to the small cooling circuit in the cannon's back. The systems are linked with an heat exchanger for facilitating the heat conduction.

Just a note, the speed measured in that explination is from a gauss rifle, mounted on our armor divisions.

what sort of RPM would you get out of that thing though?

what sort of RPM would you get out of that thing though?

Nothing different from a standard artillery piece. Our armor-mounted gauss rifles and cannons are loaded mechanically, so the reload time is about 6 seconds.

The central supporting column has been launched, construction will commence on the innards of the device.

im impressed with pandora's box... i dont recall anyone having such a thing a year ago... (i could have fogotten), but when did you join? i remember having to carve back many of my new toys as they didnt seem legit for the 5-10M nation i was then...

The Inner electronics, main weapon and propulsion systems have all been successfully completed. as of yet project Deus Ex Machina is lacking point guns, however a design on the railgun principle has been developed and it will be only a matter of time before these are installed. as the project is at risk of being compromised at this time we request assistance from a nation with such weaponry to guard the station. the helper nation will be payed with the blueprints to the platform

You want lasers. Gauss rifles and railguns won't work too well, since you'll have massive recoil which will push the station away... Lasers are recoilless.

That being said, we would like your assurances that this will only be used in defensive situations.

thanks for the advice, any idea on how to build such guns? powder doesn't work in space and whathaveyou, would sealing the rounds vacuum-tight with oxygen in them work?

Uh, yeah, gun powers used in modern weapons will work in space; they contain an oxidizer, otherwise there wouldn't be anywhere near enough air avalible to them in the confines in the bullet casing to fuel the reaction.

And the Donimion of Kanuckistan has over a hundred orbital defence satalites armed with a combined 3000+ space-to-space/surface capible nuclear-armed missiles, with each platform mounting one or two 20 gigawatt anti-missile lasers.

A plasma or particle beam based space-to-surface beam weapon is also rumoured to exist(OOC: ever sense we use one to take out the house of another nation's leader as a sort of 'warning shot' ^^).

Okay. space adapted variants of existingl "chainguns" have been installed as well as a heavy armour-penetrating railgun. i don't know why we made it armour piercing. like we know what kind of armours the space arms race t wowill develop. ah well. time will tell i suppose.

You want lasers. Gauss rifles and railguns won't work too well, since you'll have massive recoil which will push the station away... Lasers are recoilless.

That being said, we would like your assurances that this will only be used in defensive situations.

Actually, gauss rifles have very little kickback. It can easily be countered by a very small adjustment jet on the satilite that fires just after the gauss rifle is fired.

There is no explosive force to cause a large recoil like in conventional weaponry. All force is exerted onto the shell, not the weapon.

In terms of efficiency, the railgun is a bit more efficient. However, recoil still exists. Furthermore, there's the problem of the slug burning up upon re-entry, which means that you'll need one with quite a large calibre to be effective. If you have a very large slug, then the recoil will be quite large (And I assume you'll have one, since you need a bit of mass to make the impact do any significant damage, or lots and lots of speed...)

In terms of efficiency, the railgun is a bit more efficient. However, recoil still exists. Furthermore, there's the problem of the slug burning up upon re-entry, which means that you'll need one with quite a large calibre to be effective. If you have a very large slug, then the recoil will be quite large (And I assume you'll have one, since you need a bit of mass to make the impact do any significant damage, or lots and lots of speed...)

the railgun is a space-to-space weapon, burning up on reentry is advantageous, the laser is the thing that takes out the ground targets.

In terms of efficiency, the railgun is a bit more efficient. However, recoil still exists. Furthermore, there's the problem of the slug burning up upon re-entry, which means that you'll need one with quite a large calibre to be effective. If you have a very large slug, then the recoil will be quite large (And I assume you'll have one, since you need a bit of mass to make the impact do any significant damage, or lots and lots of speed...)

You may not be familiar with how the gauss rifle operates. It uses magnetic force to launch a shell out of the barrel, rather than explosive force. Fundamentally, it's what happens when you put the same magnetic polarity next to eachother and they repel. Except the shell is not magnetically charged.

As far as effectiveness through an atmosphere, the shells can be coated in a heat-resistant substance. Just enough to make the short trip to the ground.

There is a major, major drawback for lasers. If they hit condensed water vapor (aka clouds) on the way down, their energy is dissipated and they will not reach their target. They would only be able to be used on targets with no cloud cover.

We're familiar with the underlying concepts of gauss rifles. Actually... I think I remember reading an article somewhere that was talking about how laser beams could be focused enough now to have an application in intercepting ICBMs (Given the beam is focused on the missle long enough.)

OOC: Not too sure if it was just propaganda from the Bush Administration though...

Actually in dealing with zero G physics, the force that is exerted on the shell of the Gaussian railgun would be basically cut in half as half the force was diverted back into the railgun itself sending the primary launching mechanism in the exact opposite direction of the projectile's. However, a short burst from thrusters can provide the stability you need as long as the forces in the three axes is proportional to the force being supplied to the projectile. Determination for exact thrust is simple until you reach a point where the defense platform is attacked from multiple sides and you have multiple railguns firing at the same time. Multiple shots in the x,y, and z axes very close to one another in time, can put the orbital defense platform in an unrecoverable spin with both acceleration in the Yaw and the Pitch relative to the force. You can calculate the forces needed to offset this but the calculations must be precise and must be controlled by an onboard computer. The cyclic rate of the Gaussian railgun can be increased with the right design and used with a round that would resist burning up in the atmosphere until target can be reached. We can help you with the design of this system, as we have a tremendous experience in creating such weapons.

We can provide you a stable reactor that can power such a large magnitude weapon such as the one you are describing. It is a form of Nuclear reaction but provided much more power than a typical fusion or fission reactor equivalent in size.

Actually in dealing with zero G physics, the force that is exerted on the shell of the Gaussian railgun would be basically cut in half as half the force was diverted back into the railgun itself sending the primary launching mechanism in the exact opposite direction of the projectile's. However, a short burst from thrusters can provide the stability you need as long as the forces in the three axes is proportional to the force being supplied to the projectile. Determination for exact thrust is simple until you reach a point where the defense platform is attacked from multiple sides and you have multiple railguns firing at the same time. Multiple shots in the x,y, and z axes very close to one another in time, can put the orbital defense platform in an unrecoverable spin with both acceleration in the Yaw and the Pitch relative to the force. You can calculate the forces needed to offset this but the calculations must be precise and must be controlled by an onboard computer. The cyclic rate of the Gaussian railgun can be increased with the right design and used with a round that would resist burning up in the atmosphere until target can be reached. We can help you with the design of this system, as we have a tremendous experience in creating such weapons.

We can provide you a stable reactor that can power such a large magnitude weapon such as the one you are describing. It is a form of Nuclear reaction but provided much more power than a typical fusion or fission reactor equivalent in size.

A system similar to what you describe is already in place in our gauss ortillery. We have quite an extensive network of these satilites, and we are in no need for construction assistance, seeing we researched and developed the technology decades ago.

Another note: a nuclear reactor is much less efficient than a fusion reaction, and does not provide nearly as much power. Compact fusion reactors are what power our ortillery.

Umm... unless I'm mistaken a fusion reaction is a type of nuclear reaction. The type of reactor we are offering is a Matter/ Antimatter reaction assembly. It has a much higher power output than any other reactor that utilizes nuclear forces.

Umm... unless I'm mistaken a fusion reaction is a type of nuclear reaction. The type of reactor we are offering is a Matter/ Antimatter reaction assembly. It has a much higher power output than any other reactor that utilizes nuclear forces.

Adding matter to antimatter causes a very large explosion. Harnessing it for the use of an energy source would be extremly risky, and much too complicated (and large) to be put in place in a satilite.

Not to mention that when you combine matter and antimatter, they cancel eachother out and your source of power would be eaten up in a fraction of a second, unless you have tons and tons and tons of the material. In that case it might last a minute or two.

We have a working reactor with an antimatter generator as a fuel source. Plus a MAMRA does not use antimatter constantly. it uses a particle of AM every few seconds depending on the amount of power needed. We have tested it and it works. It comes with its own protective shielding.