Mystery Missile Launch Seen off California Coast

#1

Post by ph0rque » Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 3:07 PM UTC

Mystery Missile Launch Seen off California Coast
cbsnews.com

Re: Mystery Missile Launch Seen off California Coast

#2

Post by njharman » Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 3:48 PM UTC

Article seems to make assumption it was one of our missiles. Kind of probable given distance off of coast. But, still an assumption reporters/news orgs should not make.

Re: Mystery Missile Launch Seen off California Coast

#3

Post by exit » Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 3:55 PM UTC

i wonder how much bandwidth is required for the administration to remain in contact with washington while abroad. it must be someones job to decide how large of a one time pad to order up from the nsa before air force one departs.

Re: Mystery Missile Launch Seen off California Coast

#4

Post by stygianguest » Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 3:57 PM UTC

njharman wrote: post #2

Article seems to make assumption it was one of our missiles. Kind of probable given distance off of coast. But, still an assumption reporters/news orgs should not make.

I don't think any country is stupid enough to 'show off' missiles that near to the USA. Well, there's North Korea but the rocket didn't explode.

Re: Mystery Missile Launch Seen off California Coast

#5

Post by stygianguest » Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 4:02 PM UTC

Does anyone know what the precision of these missiles are? I don't suppose they could be used for precision strikes in e.g. Afghanistan, or could they?

Re: Mystery Missile Launch Seen off California Coast

#6

Post by ceejayoz » Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 4:08 PM UTC

stygianguest wrote: post #5

Does anyone know what the precision of these missiles are? I don't suppose they could be used for precision strikes in e.g. Afghanistan, or could they?

ICBMs are reasonably accurate - a couple dozen meters - but there are far, far better options.

There are already plenty of airborne/seaborne cruise missiles and guided bombs in the region, with nearly pinpoint accuracy and much faster time-on-target. Much cheaper and less likely to start a nuclear war with Russia, too.

I don't think anyone knows the accuracy of this particular missile because no one seems to know whose missile it was.

Re: Mystery Missile Launch Seen off California Coast

#7

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 4:16 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Mystery Missile Launch Seen off California Coast

#8

Post by alex77 » Tue, Nov 09, 2010, 4:19 PM UTC

stygianguest wrote: post #5

Does anyone know what the precision of these missiles are? I don't suppose they could be used for precision strikes in e.g. Afghanistan, or could they?

Very precise indeed, the reentry vehicles need to be able to change targets in midflight and evade anti-ballistic missile systems. Accuracy is crucial, as you need a much larger nuke to blow something up if your warhead is far way from the target

If you had an unlimited budget you could use space rockets to drop tiny bombs from the other side of the world, but it doesn't really make sense (like killing mosquitos with shotguns). Anyway, the payload is coming down at several kilometers a second, so that 'precise' strike will still destroy a large area from its kinetic energy alone.