On 1/14/2015 10:47 AM, David Shaw wrote:

> I make this a KE of 1.302 exa-Joules, equivalent to a touch over 311MT
> of TNT.  Is this right?  And would such a weapon system really be
> feasible within an Earth-standard atmosphere?

I admit, I wonder not only about the energy the projectiles would be
dumping into the atmosphere in their (very quick) passage through, but
the efficiency of the firing mechanism and/or its power plant, and where
all /that/ waste heat is going.

(I did also consider recoil, but I suspect it'll take more than that to
give a size 6+ planet an Orion drive.)

--
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Kelly St. Clair
kellys@efn.org