Orbital defense grid by 1996

Hnau

Banned
Inspired by this thread. There aren't too many requirements on the POD, one after 1900 is good, after 1945 is better... the latest point-of-divergence will be the best one. This 'orbital defense grid' is basically any system that

A) Can deliver a lethal amount of force up into Earth orbit
B) Does not utilize rocketry
C) Can defend against this world's superpowers from alien invasion
D) The USA must be one of these superpowers (not too hard)

The original thread suggested particle cannons, but this seems to unfeasible... if you desire to go with a direct-energy weapon, be my guest. It seems the most plausible route would be to use huge magnetic railguns. They don't need to be fired repeatedly very quickly, just readied for a massive strike against objects in orbit.

So, how would such a timeline shape out?
 
Let's say the Race is late and comes in around 1997.

"W-T-F"
-Last words of Atvar before getting the crap blown out of him.
 
(B) Does not utilize rocketry

how that gona work ?
you need heavy cargo rocket to put waponsystem in to orbit

like Orbital waponplatform like Laser (Alpha) or rocketlauncher (Polyus)
they need rocket like Shuttle-C or Energia to get in space

or you wana use zilion of Space fighters ?
most USAF and Sovjet study take a ride on a rocket in to space

ground based Railgun works only some shot, then is launch tube scrap metal.
and has to replaced


and politcal reasion, as S.D.I. or Asteroid Defence ?
 

Hnau

Banned
Well, rocketry could certainly be used to manufacture the orbital defense grid, but the actual orbital defense grid wouldn't utilize it during operations. And we're thinking a ground-based orbital defense system, which I believe is much cheaper.

Nevertheless, such kinetic powerhouses could aid in launching spacecraft into space...
 

Jomazi

Banned
Layzors would probably be the best alternative since it appears that electromagnetic accelerators (railguns, coilguns and whatnot) cannot be made to survive an extensive number of shots fired.

Also, a Laser would ideally have the generating part buried deep underground while multiple "firing towers" could be used to direct the beams. Even if one or more towers were blown up, the rest could still fire.

Why the great powers would built such system is a mystery, perhaps the SALT-talks never leads anytwhere and the militaries begins to take the cold war arms race into space. And as a last resort, you'd need a orbital defence grid.
 
Could you put thousands of super-mines into orbit ? Sure, they would be exploding all the time, but it would be very pretty and you could replace them in a constant flow

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
Could you put thousands of super-mines into orbit ? Sure, they would be exploding all the time, but it would be very pretty and you could replace them in a constant flow

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

Somehow I'd figure that that would be somewhat ... dangerous ... for the Space Shuttle, etc. I'm sure it'd be beautiful to watch, though.
 
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