Conference 7.286::space

325.0. "SDI Infeasible?" by AKOV01::CAVANAGH (We don't need no stinkin badges!) Fri Aug 21 1987 14:32

I pulled this out of the DEFENSE ISSUES notes file.


Jim

    
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Note 108.30                  SDI Countered already?                     30 of 32
DICKNS::KLAES "The Universe is safe."                44 lines  20-AUG-1987 08:19
                       -< Ah, bureaucracy and money... >-
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                   AEROSPACE INDUSTRY WEEKLY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS 
 
                        For the Week of August 10, 1987
 
                                   Provided By
  
                             CSP Associates, Inc.
                             Cambridge, MA  02140
 

    LIVERMORE LAB SAYS SDI SPACE GUNS NOT EFFECTIVE

    A leading SDI lab says space-based interceptors (SBIs), formerly known
    as space-based kinetic kill vehicles (SBKKVs), which Reagan wants to
    deploy in the mid-1990s, would not be effective against a nuclear
    attack.  Coming so soon after the American Physical Society's April
    report saying laser weapons wouldn't work, these findings could have a
    devastating political effect.  Currently, 7,000-10,000 SBIs costing $60
    billion are planned to provide an interim defense while laser weapons
    are being developed, but the report estimates that 30,000-40,000 would
    be needed, raising the ante to $150-$200 billion.  The DOD dismissed
    the report.
  
    PENTAGON TO BUILD BILLION-DOLLAR COMPLEX TO STUDY SDI

    The DOD has begun construction of the National Test Facility (NTF) at
    Colorado Springs, a billion-dollar complex where 2300 military and
    computer experts using a network of supercomputers to simulate battles,
    will try to determine whether SDI is technically feasible.  The NTF
    studies are expected to give a better overall picture than previous SDI
    research efforts, which have spent over $10 billion to date.
 
        Now THIS is the *SMART* way to go: 
 
    U.S. TO COLLABORATE WITH SOVIETS ON SPACE RESEARCH

    The U.S. and the Soviet Union will work together on space research for
    the first time since 1980, when the U.S. broke off space cooperation
    following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.  U.S. and Soviet
    scientists approved a list of 26 experiments, including investigating
    the possibility of life on Mars and other planets.  The first joint
    project will be the launch later this month of a satellite carrying two
    monkeys, ten rats, and other living organisms for a two-week flight.
 
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Note 108.31                  SDI Countered already?                     31 of 32
ULTRA::BUTCHART                                      15 lines  20-AUG-1987 09:51
                              -< Cheap rockets. >-
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    After reading last weeks Newsweek on NASA's problems, it would appear
    that one of the advantages the Soviets have is something on the
    order of a 20 to 1 cost advantage in putting material in space,
    due to their concentration on lowest cost rather than highest
    efficiency launch vehicles.  This may actually be the biggest counter
    they have on SDI.  
    
    If they continue improving their cost advantage, we'll bankrupt our
    budget putting up the space resident components of SDI, and they'll be
    able to wipe the system out of space by sending up a sufficient
    amount of GRAVEL!  (A kinetic kill weapon need not be fancy if it
    is cheap.)
    
    /Dave
    
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Note 108.32                  SDI Countered already?                     32 of 32
CIMNET::KOLKER "Conan the Librarian"                  6 lines  20-AUG-1987 14:23
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    re .30
    
    I understood that the joint project was to send 3 Heifers, 4 Cows
    and a Bull into orbit.  It will be the Herd Shot Round the World
    :>) :>)