Loren Pechtel wrote:I would think even 60 was very optimistic. I'm thinking it's more like a few degrees.
4/3PIr^3 If 5Mt = 10km r ~50Mt(RMN warhead) ~= 20km = r
Area = 33.5E3km^2
IF targeting pods, @30,000km. Assume targetting area swept is a cone with radius 100km
100km radial cicle has an area of ~31.4km^2
31.4~=~33.5
angle... arcsin(100/30,000)
Angle = 0.19 degrees...
Rod length is 10m-20m or so. They need separation. Call it 10m at least. Shoot forward then rotate. Make llllll
So, say, 100m-1000m forward of nuclear blast. arcsine(10/100) = 6 degrees cone
arcsine(10/1000) = 0.6 degree cone.
6 >> 0.6 >> 0.19
In either case, even in an extreme 1km forward position, to kill a pod at 30,000km a nuclear blast cannot even hit its own laser rods to activate them. Note above, I assume near perfect nuclear blast/laser rod orientation.
Since at small angles ~sin is linear. Lets calc distance a pod can be killed.
If 6 degrees = distance of approx 1000km is best case
tan6 = 0.1 with a radial cone of 100km = 1000km(see above)
So, with all those assumptions..... decided to do a better calc...