Request Brilliant Pebbles

[redrover]

Late 1980's SDI proposal. It would involve a constellation of 3000 to 10,000 "pebbles," small interceptors stationed in low earth orbit. Designed to destroy Soviet ballistic missiles during boost phase.
Technical report at the link, if anyone cares to read. https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/212611.pdf

 

[Capt_hensley]

Late 1980's SDI proposal. It would involve a constellation of 3000 to 10,000 "pebbles," small interceptors stationed in low earth orbit. Designed to destroy Soviet ballistic missiles during boost phase.
Technical report at the link, if anyone cares to read. https://e-reports-ext.llnl.gov/pdf/212611.pdf

I found it a dry read, but it has some interesting spots. I like the illustrations. Interesting idea, too bad it never made it anywhere. So what launch vehicle is used to put them in orbit? If there are that many, what happens when they go bad, or worse yet never get used? Are they a menace to navigation? Or do we command them to comit suicide deorbits?

 

[Adelanthal]

Brilliant Pebbles was originally meant to be lofted by a Delta platform. Upon launch, they then closed with their target, generally using IR, using their absurdly over-sized RCS thrusters and attempted a kinetic kill. The energies involved were .... impressive.

 

[Notebook]

I like how they switched the lights off in test#2. See if it works in the dark?

N.

 

[River Crab]

Am I the only one who was terrified watching those things blast themselves around, shaking the camera? They kind of scare me. :shifty:

 

[Ghostrider]

Reminded me of the Dragon AT missile hop-hop-hopping over the ground like a bunny on fire.
Don't know about its ICBM-kill effectiveness, but as an ASAT system it would be a killer. Literally.

 

[Wishbone]

That's the way it has been developing up to now. All those microsats ("technology demonstrators") are there not only to "inspect" from the outside, but also to kill in many subtle ways.

 

[redrover]

BTW, the DC-X rocket prototype was funded by SDIO to help launch and maintain the massive constellation cheaply. The Delta Clipper SSTO was planned specifically for military duties (polar orbit capability, long cross-range, etc.)

---------- Post added at 09:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:12 PM ----------

I found it a dry read, but it has some interesting spots. I like the illustrations. Interesting idea, too bad it never made it anywhere. So what launch vehicle is used to put them in orbit? If there are that many, what happens when they go bad, or worse yet never get used? Are they a menace to navigation? Or do we command them to comit suicide deorbits?

They had a km/s of delta v, so I believe suicide deorbits would be the most likely option. And the whole point of the system was to not be used. Use would entail full scale thermonuclear war...:uhh:

 

[Mojave]

Ahh :thumbup: