What's Next

[Carruthers]

I seem to have monopolised this thread but perhaps you'll indulge me a little more.

Some years ago I visited the SD Air & Space Museum at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

For a small fee it was possible to take a guided tour of the base proper although, in truth, it's such a big establishment that everything was so far away it was barely visible to the naked eye.

However, one exhibit does stick in my mind and that was the Minuteman silo with dummy round in situ.

What astonished me was how small the housing was which contained the warhead. A few feet tall and fewer feet wide. I couldn't believe it.

Interestingly, there was a cylindrical hole in the ceiling which was aligned with the Pole Star as part of the targeting system.

I can't remember the detail of how that worked but I do recall the cogged wheel lining the circumference of the silo which presumably rotated the missile for alignment purposes.

Instant mega death is so much more advanced these days.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by Carruthers

snip--
Instant mega death is so much more advanced these days.

Totally.

You can just stream it!

[tw]

Originally Posted by Carruthers

What astonished me was how small the housing was which contained the warhead. A few feet tall and fewer feet wide. I couldn't believe it.

Same applied to a B-29 heavy bomber. Surprising how that giant plane contained such a tiny bomb bay.

Delivery is so much part of the problem. Weaponizing, by making a warhead or bomb so small, is also an engineering feat. Making a nuclear explosive is only part of the problem. Making it small enough and attaching it to a massive delivery device is major.

In WWII, the atomic bomb was the largest engineering problem. Second (a B-17 and it sibling B-29) was the second largest engineering project of that war.

Explains why delivery systems, that need not support a human, are so more advanced and effective.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Carruthers

I seem to have monopolised this thread but perhaps you'll indulge me a little more.

I could happily indulge your input all day, Sir.

However, one exhibit does stick in my mind and that was the Minuteman silo with dummy round in situ.

What astonished me was how small the housing was which contained the warhead. A few feet tall and fewer feet wide. I couldn't believe it.

Can't expect too much they were only about 175 kT (later climbing to 350 kT & 3 warheads), and cheap at $7,000,000 each.

Hiroshima was a 15 kT equivalent.
Hmmm...175 kT = 175,000 tons = 350,000,000 lbs of TNT. I guess that would make a loud bang.

[Carruthers]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Can't expect too much they were only about 175 kT

A mere firecracker. Would have passed unnoticed on 5th November or 4th July.

[xoxoxoBruce]

NIMBY.