Ronn said: > So if they're no longer needed for the other purpose, why not use them > for that?
For three reasons, I suppose. Firstly, the public aren't likely to support several hundred nuclear detonations per launch. Secondly, atmsopheric nuclear explosions are prohibited by international treaty. Thirdly, the warheads themselves would be entirely wrong because the pulse units for Orion were shaped nuclear explosives that directed most of the plasma towards the pusher plate. This means that the current US warheads wouldn't be particularly effective as Orion pulse units, although it's possible that an "upgrade pack" consisting of a radiation guide and propellant disc could be fitted around them in much the same way as conventional bombs have been retrofitted with GPS/inertial guidance upgrades. At the moment I'm reading George Dyson's _Project Orion_ and it's a very interesting and readable account of the programme. I saw him give a lecture on the subject last year and would recommend that anyone here who gets the chance to see him does so because he was a great speaker. Rich _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
