Ion Cannon/Orbital Weapons?

[lordmuffin]

I was browsing the KSP forums, and I suddenly thought, "I want an ion cannon for my satellites." I don't mean Baha's laser, or the Sunbeam, already tried those.

What I want to do is blow up KSC from orbit.

If that is possible, and you can do it, I'm sure everyone would love it.

[cicatrix]

Devs have stated some time ago that no weapons would be present in the stock game. Ever.

You can make a mod though.

You can also bring an asteroid and drop it onto KSC.

[lordmuffin]

Devs have stated some time ago that no weapons would be present in the stock game. Ever.

You can make a mod though.

You can also bring an asteroid and drop it onto KSC.

I don't mean stock, I mean a mod.

And honestly I have no time and no idea how to make a mod.

[Red Iron Crown]

The trouble is the physics bubble. Weapons aren't going to affect something outside the ~2.5km limit. Best you could hope for is something launched from orbit that can be followed down, like a missile or projectile.

[Buzzou]

it can be done with a bit of tinkering...

[Sasami_TN]

I was browsing the KSP forums, and I suddenly thought, "I want an ion cannon for my satellites." I don't mean Baha's laser, or the Sunbeam, already tried those.

What I want to do is blow up KSC from orbit.

http://www.pix8.net/pro/pic.php?u=3365epM5u&i=11591508

(*smirkles*) I believe that there is an international accord agreement against weaponizing space (mostly for the reason which you requested). If ensuring public safety against meteor/ comet collision isn't a strong enough reason to put missiles, and massive gigawatt beam cannons on satellites, or even provide them the ability to launch derelict farm pickup trucks at incoming rocks of doom. Then I am sure that megalomanic tendencies which would circumvent the M.A.D. (mutually assured destruction) conscience safeguard.. would not really carry very far unless you can find a megalomanic rogue nation (MOD) sponsor who would also delight in mass destruction and seeing flaming kerbals running around screaming. (*sigh*) Since noone is allowed to weaponize space even to protect the rest of us. The best that NASA and other participating countries have been able to draw up concerning the danger of inbound cataclysmic asteroids was to put up a telescope and some sensors so that we could watch on primetime television as the rocks fall on our heads. Oh yeah, they also sponsored 2 hollywood space rock movies, which should count for something. Perhaps a future environmentally correct plan may be to send up astronauts on one side of a killer asteroid.. and push. (MISSION CONTROL> "Okay guys, on 3 you all are to push like you've had your wheaties for breakfast. 1.. 2.. 3... and p-u-s-h. Now again and this time do it like you mean it. And please will you tell that other guy to get off his cell phone to his girlfriend and contribute to the game plan here. Thank you.")

In all seriousness, one of NASA engineer's designed a gravitational tractor which would be sent up many months ahead of any planetary collision to provide a gravitational nudge which would put the asteroid on another trajectory, thereby missing earth entirely. Well, until it returns in some future time along the same trajectory. But groundbreaking idea's are being drafted and several board meetings have burned the midnight oil trying to find affordable solutions to public safety concerns. (*looks through slightly open NASA door*) yep, they're still at it so I wouldn't worry none. You can feel safe with your future in the hands of balding men wearing long sleeve white shirts and funny looking neckties.

Edited November 30, 2014 by Sasami_TN

[Red Iron Crown]

I believe that there is an international accord agreement against weaponizing space (mostly for the reason which you requested).

As I understand it, that treaty only forbids weapons of mass destruction in orbit. Conventional weapons are within the treaty limits (the Soviets had an armed satellite for a while).

[rodion]

(the Soviets had an armed satellite for a while).

do you mean the salyut 3 space station? it had an aircraft autocannon bolted onto it which always struck me as being extremely amusing as it's the most deadpan literal way that you could possibly militarize outer space. they performed ASAT tests with it, and reportedly with success at that, so maybe it wasn't such a silly idea.

edit/postscript: it's also worth noting as a funny historical scrap that the X-20 dyna-soar had a proposed military payload that included a mounted AR-15 to shoot up enemy satellites that the vehicle was co-orbiting, which is possibly an even sillier thing to imagine (it would be best of all if the soldier-astronaut actually picked up a gun and started shooting out of the service hatch, but unfortunately neither the dyna-soar nor this ASAT scenario was ever to materialize).

Edited November 30, 2014 by rodion

[Red Iron Crown]

do you mean the salyut 3 space station? it had an aircraft autocannon bolted onto it which always struck me as being extremely amusing as it's the most deadpan literal way that you could possibly militarize outer space. they performed ASAT tests with it, and reportedly with success at that, so maybe it wasn't such a silly idea.

That is the one I was thinking of, though I had forgotten it was a space station and not a satellite. Didn't know about that proposal for the Dyna-soar, sounds comical.