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There are currently international treaties that bar the orbiting of atomic weapons. Negotiations can
be begun that would permit the orbiting of nuclear devices verified to be of an "Earth-Safe" design.
On this website I propose and give an example of an atomic explosive that is physically incapable
The best place to put a system of missiles carrying atomic explosives for destroying or deflecting
incoming asteroids or comets is high Earth orbit. From high Earth orbit it is possible to launch an
intercept mission in less than 48hrs. From the Earth’s surface it could take weeks or months.
Ideally, there should be two groups of these devices in both equatorial and polar orbits. A target
coming from nearly any direction could be engaged from these two orbits.
Current designs for weapons require the use of chemical explosives to initiate and enclose
the preliminary chain reaction. Instead of explosives, the Earth Safe design for an atomic
explosive would use the speed and mass of the asteroid to assemble and detonate the device. A
high speed gas jet will assemble the critical mass and the impact with the asteroid will compress the
critical mass to a super critical mass. The device is designed to go critical and partially meltdown
upon entering the Earth's atmosphere. This will render it nearly inert and incapable of any significant
damage.(Unless you are standing where the pieces hit.)
be begun that would permit the orbiting of nuclear devices verified to be of an "Earth-Safe" design.
On this website I propose and give an example of an atomic explosive that is physically incapable
The best place to put a system of missiles carrying atomic explosives for destroying or deflecting
incoming asteroids or comets is high Earth orbit. From high Earth orbit it is possible to launch an
intercept mission in less than 48hrs. From the Earth’s surface it could take weeks or months.
Ideally, there should be two groups of these devices in both equatorial and polar orbits. A target
coming from nearly any direction could be engaged from these two orbits.
Current designs for weapons require the use of chemical explosives to initiate and enclose
the preliminary chain reaction. Instead of explosives, the Earth Safe design for an atomic
explosive would use the speed and mass of the asteroid to assemble and detonate the device. A
high speed gas jet will assemble the critical mass and the impact with the asteroid will compress the
critical mass to a super critical mass. The device is designed to go critical and partially meltdown
upon entering the Earth's atmosphere. This will render it nearly inert and incapable of any significant
damage.(Unless you are standing where the pieces hit.)
| Planetary Orbiting Nuclear Interceptor PONI |
Planetary Defense From Comets and Asteroids
Nuclear Weapons Frequently Asked Questions (NWFAQ) by Carey Sublette
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/
Illustrations Software Rhino3D
http://www.rhino3d.com/
http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/
Illustrations Software Rhino3D
http://www.rhino3d.com/
Just before asteroid impact, a gas/plasma Cushion Generator is accelerated ahead of the main body. The Cushion
Generator is made from a material such as Lithium that will easily vaporize on impact. The separation distance is
dependent upon the asteroid’s speed and composition. The optimum timing is to have the two parts of the critical mass
come together just before impact.
Generator is made from a material such as Lithium that will easily vaporize on impact. The separation distance is
dependent upon the asteroid’s speed and composition. The optimum timing is to have the two parts of the critical mass
come together just before impact.
The Cushion Generator will vaporize on striking the asteroid body and generate a gas jet. Ideally this gas jet should be
a gas without solids from the asteroid. The gas jet will drive the Highly Enriched Uranium HEU core into the HEU shell
completing the critical mass. The vaporized material may also act to cushion and separate the device from the asteroid
during impact.
a gas without solids from the asteroid. The gas jet will drive the Highly Enriched Uranium HEU core into the HEU shell
completing the critical mass. The vaporized material may also act to cushion and separate the device from the asteroid
during impact.
| Figure 3 |
The gas jet strikes and partially ablates the Copper Gas Jet Shield. The Copper Gas Jet Shield will drive the HEU
Core into the HEU Shell. The combined core, (shown in dark blue), is now critical and neutron multiplication is now
exceeding unity.
The critical mass is encased and sealed in by the Core and Shell Neutron Reflectors (shown in yellow). The
Compression Shells, (shown in purple), will maintain compression during impact. The X-Ray generators, (the red tips at
the rear), have powered up and are reflecting X-Rays from the critical mass to the detector, (purple cone at rear).The
detector will use the reflected X-Rays to measure the density of the critical mass.
Core into the HEU Shell. The combined core, (shown in dark blue), is now critical and neutron multiplication is now
exceeding unity.
The critical mass is encased and sealed in by the Core and Shell Neutron Reflectors (shown in yellow). The
Compression Shells, (shown in purple), will maintain compression during impact. The X-Ray generators, (the red tips at
the rear), have powered up and are reflecting X-Rays from the critical mass to the detector, (purple cone at rear).The
detector will use the reflected X-Rays to measure the density of the critical mass.
| Figure 4 Shown in Cross-section |
The super-critical mass (shown in light blue) has now been compressed by contact with the partially excavated
surface of the asteroid. The mass should be compressed to approximately 2.5X its normal density to achieve optimum
yield. The detector at the rear of the device (shown as a purple cone) will detect the X-Rays being reflected by the
super-critical mass. At the critical or peak density it will initiate a neutron pulse. After 90+ generations the energy 90+
generations is approximately 1 X 10E-7 seconds. The Compression Shells (shown as red/brown on the right side) will
extend the period of time that the mass remains compressed in a super-critical state.
While the critical mass is assembled, there is a small window of vulnerability where a stray neutron can initiate a
premature chain reaction. This would reduce the explosive yield. There may also be poorly understood impact
phenomena that could generate significant neutrons or radiation that could prematurely start a chain reaction. The Core
and Shell Neutron Reflectors, (shown in yellow), may provide some shielding from unexpected impact phenomena and
stray neutrons.
surface of the asteroid. The mass should be compressed to approximately 2.5X its normal density to achieve optimum
yield. The detector at the rear of the device (shown as a purple cone) will detect the X-Rays being reflected by the
super-critical mass. At the critical or peak density it will initiate a neutron pulse. After 90+ generations the energy 90+
generations is approximately 1 X 10E-7 seconds. The Compression Shells (shown as red/brown on the right side) will
extend the period of time that the mass remains compressed in a super-critical state.
While the critical mass is assembled, there is a small window of vulnerability where a stray neutron can initiate a
premature chain reaction. This would reduce the explosive yield. There may also be poorly understood impact
phenomena that could generate significant neutrons or radiation that could prematurely start a chain reaction. The Core
and Shell Neutron Reflectors, (shown in yellow), may provide some shielding from unexpected impact phenomena and
stray neutrons.
| Super Critical Compression and Detonation |
COPYRIGHT LOUIS P. QUINN 2009
This material may be excerpted, quoted, or distributed freely provided that
attribution to the author (LOUIS P. QUINN) and document name (Planetary
Orbiting Nuclear Interceptor) is clearly preserved. I would prefer that the user
also include the URL of the source.
This material may be excerpted, quoted, or distributed freely provided that
attribution to the author (LOUIS P. QUINN) and document name (Planetary
Orbiting Nuclear Interceptor) is clearly preserved. I would prefer that the user
also include the URL of the source.
This is the configuration while in high Earth orbit, (front cowling removed). When a hazardous body
is detected, the PONI will ignite its main engine and maneuver to intercept.
is detected, the PONI will ignite its main engine and maneuver to intercept.
The assembled critical mass begins to
compress the material vaporized by the
impact of the lithium Cushion Generator.
The compressed material includes
material from the asteroid. Because of
(possible) shock wave reflections from
subsurface structures, it is possible that
solid materials can be ejected from the
asteroid surface. The leading edge of the
device has to be robust enough to
account for this possibility.
compress the material vaporized by the
impact of the lithium Cushion Generator.
The compressed material includes
material from the asteroid. Because of
(possible) shock wave reflections from
subsurface structures, it is possible that
solid materials can be ejected from the
asteroid surface. The leading edge of the
device has to be robust enough to
account for this possibility.
The front of the device has struck and is
beginning to compress. This is a shock
wave, it is moving faster than the speed
of sound. A shock wave is also inside
the asteroid and is moving away from the
impact point. Some of the Compression
Shells have hit and are beginning to
compress. Once all motion stops, so will
any further compression.
beginning to compress. This is a shock
wave, it is moving faster than the speed
of sound. A shock wave is also inside
the asteroid and is moving away from the
impact point. Some of the Compression
Shells have hit and are beginning to
compress. Once all motion stops, so will
any further compression.
The critical core is being compressed
and is increasing in density. At a preset
or peak density, the Neutron Pulse
Generator, at the rear of the device, will
fire neutrons into the super-critical HEU
core to begin the explosive chain
reaction.
and is increasing in density. At a preset
or peak density, the Neutron Pulse
Generator, at the rear of the device, will
fire neutrons into the super-critical HEU
core to begin the explosive chain
reaction.
A. Lithium gas jet generator with separation thrusters.
B. Copper Gas Jet Piston and Shield.
C. Critical Mass Separator. (Safety device)
D. Neutron reflector for Critical Core. (Uranium)
E. Critical Core. (Highly Enriched Uranium H.E.U.)
F. Critical Shell. (Highly Enriched Uranium H.E.U.)
G. Neuron reflector for Critical Shell. (Uranium)
H. Compression Shells.
I. X-ray Generators, Density Detector, and Neutron Pulse Generator.
B. Copper Gas Jet Piston and Shield.
C. Critical Mass Separator. (Safety device)
D. Neutron reflector for Critical Core. (Uranium)
E. Critical Core. (Highly Enriched Uranium H.E.U.)
F. Critical Shell. (Highly Enriched Uranium H.E.U.)
G. Neuron reflector for Critical Shell. (Uranium)
H. Compression Shells.
I. X-ray Generators, Density Detector, and Neutron Pulse Generator.
Alternatively, when the time to projected impact is short, it may be impossible to apply a sufficient ΔV
without fragmentation, but the limiting factor is assembly and launch. A nuclear package with a new
fuse (i.e., a fuse that is not designed for terrestrial use) and a new container requires a cylinder
about a meter in length and 35 cm in diameter, with a mass under 220 kg. The longest lead-time item
for incorporating such a device in a rocket system is the development of a container to deliver the
device and a fusing system capable of operating with the timing constraints required by the spacecraft
velocities near impact with the NEO. Specifications for a nuclear bus could be the same as those for a
kinetic-impactor mission, but would be very challenging to construct and integrate with the booster
rocket and the nuclear package in under a year. This “latency time” between the decision to act and
the launch can be reduced dramatically (perhaps 100 fold) by designing and testing these critical
components in advance of discovering a hazardous NEO.
without fragmentation, but the limiting factor is assembly and launch. A nuclear package with a new
fuse (i.e., a fuse that is not designed for terrestrial use) and a new container requires a cylinder
about a meter in length and 35 cm in diameter, with a mass under 220 kg. The longest lead-time item
for incorporating such a device in a rocket system is the development of a container to deliver the
device and a fusing system capable of operating with the timing constraints required by the spacecraft
velocities near impact with the NEO. Specifications for a nuclear bus could be the same as those for a
kinetic-impactor mission, but would be very challenging to construct and integrate with the booster
rocket and the nuclear package in under a year. This “latency time” between the decision to act and
the launch can be reduced dramatically (perhaps 100 fold) by designing and testing these critical
components in advance of discovering a hazardous NEO.
A simpler and more proven way of doing the same thing might be here. The italics are
mine.
The Following is an excerpt from: Page 81
Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies: Final Report
Committee to Review Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies Space Studies Board;
National Research Council ISBN: 0-309-14969-X, 136 pages, 8 1/2 x 11, (2010) This free PDF was
downloaded from:
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12842.html
mine.
The Following is an excerpt from: Page 81
Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies: Final Report
Committee to Review Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies Space Studies Board;
National Research Council ISBN: 0-309-14969-X, 136 pages, 8 1/2 x 11, (2010) This free PDF was
downloaded from:
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12842.html
Is it the device ready and waiting on the shelf? Can we defend
ourselves from an asteroid with a very short warning time? Will
Mumbles be the government spokesman explaining why not?
ourselves from an asteroid with a very short warning time? Will
Mumbles be the government spokesman explaining why not?