Sabotage

[r4pt0r]

essentially, Im working on a story about an american agent in north korea, whos job it is to sabotage the DPRK through various means, and it will have parts that read alot like a splinter-cell game.

But the story opens up my dashing hero foiling a satellite launch. My rough idea is for him to hit the main rocket body with a sniper rifle, piercing the fuel tank from a mile away. Since he does this at the very end of the countdown/as it launches, the fuel leaking out is ignited by the main engine. and the whole thing ka-booms.

how would that work in real life?

(hope this doesn't break any rules, i did re-read them)

[Kryten]

It wouldn't. After ignition the fuel would be forced off of the side of the rocket faster than it could burn, on account of the whole 'moving rocket' thing. Major technical issues would add to the Splinter Cell feel though; I see you've already got the ludicrous propagandist story down pat.

[Nuke]

id try to hit the gimbal hydraulics. that would lead to some major control problems. that would likely be hidden behind fairings so you would need prior intel about the rocket design.

[Javster]

Do they really need to be sabotaged to fail spectacularly ?

More seriously, how thick is your average fairing? Hitting the payload would be ideal, the satellite wouldn't work, but it wouldn't be as embarrassing as a huge explosion.

[Red Iron Crown]

If our intrepid hero can smuggle a sniper rifle into position, seems like he could probably smuggle a man-portable SAM or anti-tank missile instead. An anti-tank missile into the first stage tank would foil the launch nicely.

[QuesoExplosivo]

Yes, but then it would be obvious that it was sabotaged.

[Red Iron Crown]

Oh, I wasn't thinking of it being discreet sabotage, with a sniper rifle they'll see what happened when they review the video, though it definitely wouldn't be as obvious as a missile.

Maybe he can hack into the control computers and fake a malfunction? That would take more detective work to find.

[Seret]

0.50cal AP-T round into something volatile (LOX tank?). Fire on the pad. Kaboom.