How are we getting it all into orbit?
Or are we Orioning our way up out of the atmosphere as well?
Why are the Russians (or US, as appropriate) not freaking out about several thousand megatons of nukes in orbit, where they can be precisely dropped anywhere in the world with leisure and decent precision?
Would it really be that much? And a delivery system that can reach the end of the ship, is not the same one you need to drop though the atmosphere with accuracy.
I wouldn't blame the *USSR for freaking out about it, though. They don't necessarily know exactly what the Orion delivery system is capable of.
Anyway, it doesn't take much of a delivery system to drop things. Gravity would be a big help there.
Say way build international space station instead orbiting the moon. Put piece together in space. I personal think this time done voyage to nearest star system at least.
I personal think this time done voyage to nearest star system at least.
With the KGB? They would know everything about Orion.
And a system the puts bombs yards away from the end of the ship would not useful for bombardment.
Now they might claim to be concerned in an attempt to derail the US space program.
As a BTW Orioning into orbit is just not on - period .That bit would have to be old fashioned chemical rockets
Which basically means you must build it in the LEO. Or build hilariously impractical 200.000 tons booster to lift it.
So, some 40 to 50 Saturns V for the parts to deliver in order to build medium version and an unknown number, but probably up to a 10 more for the supply during the construction. Cost of building the Orion would probably be staggering.
That's something I've wondered about a lot too. Does anyone know if you could design it as a lifting body, maybe? I figure maybe you could use a body of water instead of a landing strip to make things easier, et cetera - but I don't really know much about aerospace engineering.One thing I couldn't figure out about a fission pulse drive; how do you land the thing? My guess would be that you don't.
One thing I couldn't figure out about a fission pulse drive; how do you land the thing? My guess would be that you don't.
Von Braun's variant of Project Orion was to tie it to a stretched Saturn V first stage to get it up past the majority of the atmosphere and only then start banging one's way to the Moon. That's the only variant that can conceivably be flown. Actually Low Earth Orbit assembly would require too many launches. If it were to fly, it would greatly simplify the issues of interplanetary flight.
That's something I've wondered about a lot too. Does anyone know if you could design it as a lifting body, maybe?