SOXBLOX

I think that the realism of KSP2, combined with the fact that you can build anything, any way you want, sets it head and shoulders above most other combat games. It has huge potential for a lot of interesting scenarios. I hope the devs don't try to make it difficult to create the mods which would tap that potential. I'm gonna throw this out here: I don't think KSP is about "peacefully exploring space". I think it's about building rockets. You can do whatever you'd like with those rockets or aircraft. You can build an ICBM just as well as a scientific probe, or a bomber as well as an airliner.

Why don't they wash the booster? Or would that black stuff not come off? Is it discolored paint, or just soot?

Oops. I meant with modern chemical engines. I did say high efficiency types would have no plume. My bad; I didn't clarify.

It wouldn't be Outsider, would it? And you're right. Visual plumes don't really jive with high efficiency engines. Or any engines, really. The exhaust expands super quickly. Close to the nozzle, you can see it. Say, 1 km behind the nozzle? Nope.

Well, you have to get the cargo to the launch sites...

Why would they bother launching from the sea? Does the inclination help that much? If it's not so beneficial, then maybe they should just recover the boosters at sea and hop them back to land. Or do they plan to use a barge?

If the guy whom I was addressing cares, we'll discuss it. In the meantime, you may open the political debate at your leisure. I'll not join in. Sad but true. Take that how you will...

Project Pele intends to develop a small, 1-5 MW nuclear reactor for military use. (For reference, a Virginia-class's reactor puts out 40 MW.) It uses a type of engineered fuel, called TRISO. It's apparently "the most robust nuclear fuel on Earth". This reactor would be transported to a location and set up as power for a base or whatever. Interesting to us because it has a fair amount of NASA involvement, and shows up in the same budget thing as DRACO (Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cis-lunar Operations, aka that new NERVA thing). (Pele = Hawaiian lava goddess, I guess? Not a great name when you're trying to avoid meltdowns...) Edit: Forgot the link. Here.

While we're questioning each others' motives, why did you bother asking this question? Probably for the same reason as I wrote my comment. I'd never really thought about how quickly they must turn those around. Thanks.

We already went over this. During the opening stages of a major conflict, a lot of existing infrastructure would be lost (read: the bases "next door" are no longer fully operational). Some of the areas these things are stored at could be hit. So, SS could bring replacements quickly. And in the opening stages of what would presumably be a very fast-paced conflict, every second counts.

Hence the phrase "close to" in my post. Or they could create a completely different system. And somehow I doubt they'll be shipping vehicles. That's a thing for ships and airlifters. SS's niche is speed. It could deliver missiles, critical replacement parts, etc. An M1A2? Nah.

I'm gonna borrow this. As Wikipedia so frequently says, "[by whom?]". Anyway, to avoid veering into the War of Ideas, how many boosters do SpaceX have in inventory? Ten? Thirty? A hundred?

Probably something close to the way they offload cargo from Moonship. Alaska fits the "austere" part...

I like Space Corps. And good point about the Chair Force Air Force.

Hmmm... Well, the Zumwalt-class has a pretty high superstructure. Maybe put it up there? Although that pagoda mast does have a look all its own...

IDK if you noticed, but I'd mentioned that the budget request included a mention of "air-drop methods". Pretty sure a logistics analysis company is also getting funding, and there are discussions going on about containers and perhaps, containers with heat shields. I guess if we can give ICBMs a decent CEP, Starship can do it, too. Out of curiosity, which austere site do you all think they'd fly to for the proposed test? Some island in the Atlantic? I guess that's the reason one defense company proposed bolting ESSM launchers to cargo ships... Also saw a neat feature a week ago on Raytheon's progress with its laser program. The fiber optic type seems to have solved scalability issues; they're wrapping up their R&D on a 20 kW class system for anti-drone and shifting to one that can do full C-RAM. They said it would work fine in a maritime environment... Also, exactly how much reinforcing would it take to get a flight deck of any type to handle an SS? I have no idea how strong they are; I just know that some can't handle a V-22. I presume rocket exhaust would be worse.

Poor Trident. Neptune deserves some love. Thinking of how to give SpaceX RTGs... Edit: That descent sphere on DAVINCI+ sounds interesting. Like Venera or Pioneer, I guess...

LOL. My dad (Air Force) got a guided tour of the carrier USS America, I think it was, when he was there for some reason or other. He found a really sweet chair up in the island, with a sheepskin lining, and then he sat in it. He said the Navy guy with him almost had a heart attack, 'cause that was the flag bridge. Guess whose chair it was... And I hope Starship can be painted... Maybe just the letters or something? If not, maybe bolt on some heat shield material as letters? IMO, they'd probably reinforce the flight deck of an LHD or LPD, rather than take up premium carrier deck space. I think it would still work, and operations wouldn't be affected so much. Helicopters can ferry stuff around the battle group.

Depends on what kind of AI you mean. If it's just an "AI", a simple program with some rules baked in, then it should be defeatable. But if it's doing analysis 30 moves out, you aren't gonna beat it. Unless it's a lower level one, in which case it intentionally makes mistakes no sane chess player would ever consider. Of course, this assumes we don't have our own AIs to duel the enemy ones...

Um, no. Today, even the Air Force is talking about opening up "windows of temporary air superiority" as something great. They realize that it could take weeks during a major conflict to establish total superiority. During a hypothetical war with China, the US would lose a lot of infrastructure overseas in the opening days (and so would China). Runways, base buildings, etc. Hence the military's new focus on austere locations. If they're looking at Starship, someone must think it's a good idea.

Honestly I don't see SS ever being used outside of permissive environments. It's too big a target and too fragile. It would need some exceptional countermeasures to avoid being shot down in contested airspace. Although, Northrop Grumman did recently patent a system which would have the B-21 launching interceptor missiles at incoming SAMs. That could really help... I don't think that's what they want SS for. It seems like it would be better for getting high-priority stuff somewhere fast. Maybe fly in a couple loaded with a complete air defense system to a base which needs its own bolstered?

Am I the first to post this? USAF wants more funding for Starship p2p. They hope to be able to land a C-17's cargo in an austere location within an hour of the launch order. In addition, they've apparently frequently discussed stationing cargo in orbit, ready to drop at any time. Is that even possible with methalox, 'cause my intuition is saying no? Also includes references to air-dropping. Maybe an orbital drop pod type thing is being investigated? The use cases for Starship in general which they list are reinforcing overseas facilities quickly, and ... that's basically it. Personally, I don't see much benefit to any of this, although the drop pod sounds cool.

I can't even find any "Taran" in English, besides a Cold War tank thing. Do you have a link? I'm curious...

Even with both stages it only burned for, like, four seconds. Your ship should be able to avoid it after it uses up its ∆v but before it impacts. Sprint was an awesome missile.

Oops. Well, nevermind. But I still think the flag proportions are off... And those pallets are pretty funny. Good catch, @Codraroll.