Rods from God is not a practical concept. This is not to say it would not work.
A x number of tonne tungsten rod in orbit, does not just drop out of space, it must be de-orbitted with a burn that will bring it initially onto a shallow atmospheric entry, the steeper the more fuel is used. A steep trajectory would require enough fuel to almost completely stop the orbit from say 27,000 Kph.
This whole weapon system is so egregiously energy inefficient with the initial launch included that it is just not practical in any way. To get a heavy object out of the atmosphere, accelerate it to 7kms per second only to slow it down again is the most inefficient delivery system possible. Have a look at the price of sending objects into space and then think about the rods from God program.
It makes no sense.
Edit:- Not to be a downer, I loved the concept until I applied knowledge of orbital mechanics to the problem, had a bit of a think about it then went..Nah.
This is not to say it would not work, but that burn to slow from 7 kilometers a second to gradually walk a vector onto a terestrial target at any sort of non shallow trajectory would be long. I guess you could use a smaller course correction and then atmospheric breaking of some sort to achieve a steeper trajectory with less fuel but I just don't overly see this whole concept as practical, especially when the tungsten is coming from earth. From space might be another matter. Anyway - food for thought.
Final edit:- Could it make sense from the standpoint of an unlimited budget and the need for ultimate deniability in singular or extremely rare circumstances - maybe/ maybe not. Who the fuck knows anything anymore.
You don't think Trump put anything in space? I always figured Musk was involved as well. But to what you're saying regarding kinetic space weapons I don't think that's whats up there - I have no clue what they're using but I feel they weaponized something even if it's just a magnifying glass to beam the sun - That's a joke I think....
Rods from God is not a practical concept. This is not to say it would not work. A x number of tonne tungsten rod in orbit, does not just drop out of space, it must be de-orbitted with a burn that will bring it initially onto a shallow atmospheric entry, the steeper the more fuel is used. A steep trajectory would require enough fuel to almost completely stop the orbit from say 27,000 Kph. This whole weapon system is so egregiously energy inefficient with the initial launch included that it is just not practical in any way. To get a heavy object out of the atmosphere, accelerate it to 7kms per second only to slow it down again is the most inefficient delivery system possible. Have a look at the price of sending objects into space and then think about the rods from God program. It makes no sense. Edit:- Not to be a downer, I loved the concept until I applied knowledge of orbital mechanics to the problem, had a bit of a think about it then went..Nah. This is not to say it would not work, but that burn to slow from 7 kilometers a second to gradually walk a vector onto a terestrial target at any sort of non shallow trajectory would be long. I guess you could use a smaller course correction and then atmospheric breaking of some sort to achieve a steeper trajectory with less fuel but I just don't overly see this whole concept as practical, especially when the tungsten is coming from earth. From space might be another matter. Anyway - food for thought. Final edit:- Could it make sense from the standpoint of an unlimited budget and the need for ultimate deniability in singular or extremely rare circumstances - maybe/ maybe not. Who the fuck knows anything anymore.
You don't think Trump put anything in space? I always figured Musk was involved as well. But to what you're saying regarding kinetic space weapons I don't think that's whats up there - I have no clue what they're using but I feel they weaponized something even if it's just a magnifying glass to beam the sun - That's a joke I think....
Oh I definitely feel Trump put shit in space and like you I have no clue what..