A bit of a mystery

razark · 11-09-10, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

...an accidental launch and the US does have kill switches for its SLBMs.

To go beyond that is to go into scary territory in that the US has just had a hostile launch 35 miles off one of its big cities.

An accidental launch of a SLBM is not scary?

Would a nuclear warhead have some kind of safety system in place to prevent detonation if a missile were to be accidentally launched?

11-09-10, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razark

An accidental launch of a SLBM is not scary?

Would a nuclear warhead have some kind of safety system in place to prevent detonation if a missile were to be accidentally launched?

No. There are no such thing as an accidental launch with nuclear weapons. Too many barriers for that to happen. Even the President cannot execute a launch on his own initiative.

Oberon · 11-09-10, 05:16 PM

This is true, I do not know of a way that an SLBM could be accidentally launched, however it's still something that's got to be laid on the table, just like the contrail theory.

I guess we should also factor San Nicolas island into the equation, they do launch research rockets from there.

krashkart · 11-09-10, 05:22 PM

I'm willing to take a test fire from San Nicolas that suffered communication breakdown, over a possible "Yo, America! Lookit what we can do!".

This contrail mystery coincides with two programs I watched on Sunday about the Cuban Missile Crisis. I'm not a happy camper today.

Oberon · 11-09-10, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krashkart

I'm willing to take a test fire from San Nicolas that suffered communication breakdown, over a possible "Yo, America! Lookit what we can do!".

This contrail mystery coincides with two programs I watched on Sunday about the Cuban Missile Crisis. I'm not a happy camper today.

You ever watched 'Thirteen Days'? Good film.

Rockstar · 11-09-10, 05:36 PM

Odd 13 days was aired here in the states 2 days before this happened.

krashkart · 11-09-10, 05:56 PM

I'm ruling out international incident. Somebody would have stepped forward by now to claim responsibility and strike fear into our hearts, and there would have been special reports on local TV all afternoon.

Has anyone mentioned an unannounced commercial spaceplane launch as a possibility? Spaceship 2 has crossed my mind a couple of times, but I doubt either Branson or Rutan would risk their hides over a stupid mistake like that. That, and they probably would have come forward with an apology by now.

ETR3(SS) · 11-09-10, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Third Man

No. There are no such thing as an accidental launch with nuclear weapons. Too many barriers for that to happen.

This. There is no way in hell that you can accidentally launch a missile. Far too many people involved in the launch process for that to happen.

razark · 11-09-10, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

This. There is no way in hell that you can accidentally launch a missile. Far too many people involved in the launch process for that to happen.

I understand that there are too many people involved. What about mechanical or electrical problems?

Once a solid fuel rocket begins burning, it's going somewhere, no matter how it started burning.

11-09-10, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razark

I understand that there are too many people involved. What about mechanical or electrical problems?

Once a solid fuel rocket begins burning, it's going somewhere, no matter how it started burning.

But that doesn't jive because there was no nuclear detonation.

Unless you think all SLBMs are toothless. IE no nukes.

I guess we can go back to a test launch during rush hour on the west coast. Back to the Obama Admin playing bad with an unfunny game. To get some legislation passed. I pray that is not the case.

razark · 11-09-10, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Third Man

But that doesn't jive because there was no nuclear detonation.

Huh. Seems someone might have asked about that...

Oh, right:

Quote:

Originally Posted by razark

Would a nuclear warhead have some kind of safety system in place to prevent detonation if a missile were to be accidentally launched?

Raptor1 · 11-09-10, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Third Man

But that doesn't jive because there was no nuclear detonation.

Unless you think all SLBMs are toothless. IE no nukes.

I guess we can go back to a test launch during rush hour on the west coast. Back to the Obama Admin playing bad with an unfunny game. To get some legislation passed. I pray that is not the case.

Accidentally launching an SLBM would be much easier than accidentally making the warhead go off...

11-09-10, 05:51 PM

The point is ....once launched the warheads are not recallable or able to be disabled in any manner. This isn't hollywood.

Once launched detonation will occur unless it is a test. To allow for any means of self destruct or any interference of the missile in flight removes any usefullness it may have.

ETR3(SS) · 11-09-10, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by razark

I understand that there are too many people involved. What about mechanical or electrical problems?

Once a solid fuel rocket begins burning, it's going somewhere, no matter how it started burning.

If a missile lights off in the tube, it will more than likely destroy the boat carrying it.

razark · 11-09-10, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETR3(SS)

If a missile lights off in the tube, it will more than likely destroy the boat carrying it.

Good point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Third Man

The point is ....once launched the warheads are not recallable or able to be disabled in any manner.

Let me rephrase my question, then:
Does the warhead need to be armed before launch (as part of the button-pressing, key-turning fun the movies portray), or is it automatically armed when the missile leaves the tube, or is it sitting ready to go on top of the missile waiting for the command to detonate it?

11-09-10, 05:16 PM	#3
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	This is true, I do not know of a way that an SLBM could be accidentally launched, however it's still something that's got to be laid on the table, just like the contrail theory. I guess we should also factor San Nicolas island into the equation, they do launch research rockets from there.

11-09-10, 05:22 PM	#4
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	I'm willing to take a test fire from San Nicolas that suffered communication breakdown, over a possible "Yo, America! Lookit what we can do!". This contrail mystery coincides with two programs I watched on Sunday about the Cuban Missile Crisis. I'm not a happy camper today.

11-09-10, 05:36 PM	#6
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Odd 13 days was aired here in the states 2 days before this happened.

11-09-10, 05:56 PM	#7
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	I'm ruling out international incident. Somebody would have stepped forward by now to claim responsibility and strike fear into our hearts, and there would have been special reports on local TV all afternoon. Has anyone mentioned an unannounced commercial spaceplane launch as a possibility? Spaceship 2 has crossed my mind a couple of times, but I doubt either Branson or Rutan would risk their hides over a stupid mistake like that. That, and they probably would have come forward with an apology by now.

11-09-10, 05:51 PM	#13
The Third Man Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	The point is ....once launched the warheads are not recallable or able to be disabled in any manner. This isn't hollywood. Once launched detonation will occur unless it is a test. To allow for any means of self destruct or any interference of the missile in flight removes any usefullness it may have.