2332. Kinetic Kill Vehicles: The Future is Now

Title2332. Kinetic Kill Vehicles: The Future is Now
Publication TypeConference Paper
Paper Number2332
Year of Publication1996
AuthorsJones, G. A.
Conference55th Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, June 3-5
Conference LocationAtlanta, Georgia
PublisherSociety of Allied Weight Engineers, Inc.
Date Published6/3/96
Abstract

Page 1.11 of the SAWE handbook states that the energy associated with 1 ton of TNT is 4.2 x 10^16 ergs. A ton of TNT has the same energy of a ton of ordinary matter moving at about 3000 meters per second, or about 10,000 feet per second. Such velocities are usually associated with very high speed projectiles, specifically an atmospheric reentry body (RB). One might assume that an RB with a landing velocity of 3 kilometers per second would have a similar influence upon its landing site as an RB mass of exploding TNT. The first part of this paper covers some first-order estimation techniques for determining landing speeds of sphere-cone reentry bodies. Assuming that a TNT-like influence is the desired effect, and that one wishes to exert that influence from a launch point thousands of kilometers distant, it becomes critically important to control the landing site to a very high degree of accuracy. The second part of this paper covers a means of end game flight control involving steering an incoming RB by shifting the center of gravity of the vehicle.

Pages10
Key Words18. Weight Engineering - Spacecraft Design
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