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发帖数: 994 | 1 A test of America's homeland missile defense system found a problem. Why did
the Pentagon call it a success?
By DAVID WILLMAN
REPORTING FROM WASHINGTON | JULY 6, 2016, 3 A.M.
If North Korea ever unleashed nuclear-armed missiles against America, the
defense of U.S. cities and towns would depend to no small degree on
something called a divert thruster.
These small rocket motors would be counted on to keep U.S. anti-missile
interceptors on target as they hurtled through space toward the incoming
warheads.
If the thrusters malfunctioned – and they have a record of performance
problems – an interceptor could veer off-course, allowing a warhead to slip
through. The consequences could be catastrophic.
So a lot was at stake when the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency conducted
the first flight test of a new and supposedly improved version of the
thruster on Jan. 28.
An interceptor launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California was to
make a close fly-by of a mock enemy warhead high above the Pacific. The
interceptor’s four attached thrusters would provide precision steering.
The missile agency issued a news release that day touting a “successful
flight test.” The agency’s lead contractors were no less effusive. Aerojet
Rocketdyne Inc., maker of the thrusters, said the new model “successfully
performed its mission-critical role.”
Raytheon Co., which assembles the interceptors, said the “successful
mission proved the effectiveness of a recent redesign of the … thrusters,
which provides the control necessary for lethal impact with incoming threats
.”
In fact, the test was not a success, the Los Angeles Times has learned. One
of the thrusters malfunctioned, causing the interceptor to fly far off-
course, according to Pentagon scientists.
The mishap raises fresh questions about the Ground-based Midcourse Defense
system, the network of ground-launched interceptors that is supposed to
protect the United States against a nuclear attack. | z****n
发帖数: 3189 | 2 美帝从一个胜利走向另外一个胜利！ --------老将
中国或成最大输家！ ------老将
did
【在 x*******6 的大作中提到】
: A test of America's homeland missile defense system found a problem. Why did
: the Pentagon call it a success?
: By DAVID WILLMAN
: REPORTING FROM WASHINGTON | JULY 6, 2016, 3 A.M.
: If North Korea ever unleashed nuclear-armed missiles against America, the
: defense of U.S. cities and towns would depend to no small degree on
: something called a divert thruster.
: These small rocket motors would be counted on to keep U.S. anti-missile
: interceptors on target as they hurtled through space toward the incoming
: warheads.
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