Re: Return to No Stealth in Space

On Mar 18, 7:01 pm, jdnic...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 (James Nicoll) wrote:

>         Let's say that the largest rockets are about the size
> of an oil tanker. A quick back of the envelope calculation
> suggests that a 500,000 tonne ****p with a mass ratio of 4 and
> an acceration of 1 G [1] and an exhaust velocity of 5000 km/s
> might have a peak power output of 5^16 Watts (plus whatever
> for ineffeciencies).

I just want to say, that is a ****ing insane amount of power.

In low Earth orbit, it would light up the Earth like a second sun.
Even in geosynchronous orbit, it would be brighter than a full Moon.

What am I saying?   You wouldn't want this anywhere near the Earth.
If it made a low pass at Space Shuttle altitudes, it could fry a
continent over easy.


Doug M.