[FPSPACE] Will China be able to afford its manned space program

[E.P. Grondine]

Hi all - 

Chelomei's work on the mini-shuttle with laser ABM system explains a lot:

http://www.astronautix.com/articles/chidoors.htm

Please keep in mind that that article was done years ago. I was focused solely on the manned capsule at the time, and Mark's illustration does not show its true aerodynamic form. 
The mini-shuttle material was included there mainly because Mark wanted to include it there.

Now moving back to current issues, CAPS, while explosive force can be calculated 
from craters, the scaling laws relating explosive forces of the size of impact events 
to the resulting holes are "sensitive", and furthermore they are under development
and vary.  The public versions must be taken for what they are. 

Even if you have a first order estimate of explosive force, without velocity you 
don't know how it was generated. If you can get geological samples to show you 
the type of impactor, then you can get some first order approximations.
All of which has bearing on determining the needed capabilities for detection systems.

By the way, if you really want to get current, personally signed copies of my book "Man and Impact in the Americas" are available to fpspacers for a special price - write me for details.

E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas
and
"Amazing Stories" free to fpspacers -  write me, you will be amazed 


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