Mace Canute
Elite Member
Here's a nice read on the subject of EMP. FM 3-3-1 Appendix C
Hypothetical Doomsday Scenario
- Thread starter MasseyWV
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creekbend
Super Star Member
I said a scud launcher I didn't say launching a scud missile. The launcher and the missile are two different things. I'm sorry if I wasn't more clear.
Ok fair enough. I'll clarify as well: nothing launched from a SCUD launcher is achieving 300 miles altitude.
Wrooster
The experts on EMPs (the advisers to the military) have said that a scud launcher could be retrofit to do the job. But their point was mainly that its the nuke that is hard to come up with. The deployment mechanism can be crude.
Who?
I don't know any other way to say this but as follows: a SCUD launch vehicle is designed to carry and launch a relatively lightweight 37 foot long ballistic missile. I am telling you that there is no possible way to get a 37 foot long ballistic missile w/nuclear payload to a LEO (low earth orbit) altitude of 300 miles -- again, it's just physics. The ISS (International Space Station) is in LEO 250 miles up -- and you need another 50 miles on top of that to get to your target altitude of 300 miles. Research what is needed to bring 1KG of payload to the ISS, that will give you a good idea of what's involved here.
Here is a list of what are known as "Small Lift/Launch Systems", which is basically a compendium of rocket platforms designed to bring between 1lb and 10Klbs to LEO altitude.
Comparison of orbital launch systems - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
You'll note that the SMALLEST of the lot is about 100' in length, and the WEIGHT of the fuel alone makes such a launch/lift platform IMPOSSIBLE to have on a SCUD mobile erector/launcher platform. Of course over the years there have been some "one-off" designs that have had a smaller form-factor -- the only problem is that after ignition very often these types of missiles don't make it any farther than the launch facility parking lot -- and the resulting fireworks are pretty impressive when you have 30 tons of hydrazine and liquid oxygen combined with a source of heat...
"Crude" and ">100 miles altitude" are not compatible aspects -- unless you want tiny pieces of your only nuclear device scattered all over the launch site.
Wrooster
creekbend
Super Star Member
Thanks for posting. When I attempted to view the video, the caption stated that the video was presently unavailable. Hopefully, later.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
I watched a lot of the video... It was enlightening, but disturbing at the same time to know we are doing so little about EMP. I mentioned a Carrington event to an electric company executive a few years ago, and he had never heard of such a thing.
James K0UA
It did that to me the first time too (I watched it about a year ago but checked it yesterday when I went to look for the link) but worked when I reloaded the page.