Missile Test Failure, Northern Russia 1

[Sparweb]

Facts are slowly coming out, since Russia isn't very open about nuclear accidents, or its military (gee I wonder why).

The usual caution: some western media may fill the void in facts with their own speculation. It probably is a missile with nuclear propulsion, but journalists are jumping to conclusions about specifically which one it may be. If true however, missile propulsion from a nuclear reactor is a prospect I really don't want to think about.

An article with many possibly unconfirmed details:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...oksa-evacuate-chernobyl-missile-a9055796.html

Somewhat better article:

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/...-may-have-been-a-nuclear-powered-missile-test

A town is being evacuated:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyonoksa

No one believes the theory except the one who developed it. Everyone believes the experiment except the one who ran it.
STF

 

[VEBill]

"...radioactive exhaust, sonic booms..."

Assuming the missile is intended to be a weapon, then what happens to the propulsion nuclear reactor while and after the warhead explodes?

Is every one a Dirty Bomb?

And no, even a nuclear warhead would not properly consume the heavy elements in an adjacent reactor. It would merely disperse them.

 

[3DDave]

It's a Doomsday weapon. Pick the worst option and go with it.

 

[JohnRBaker]

It's a Doomsday weapon.

Shades of Dr. Strangelove...

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[Phil1934]

“The United States is learning much from the failed missile explosion in Russia. We have similar, though more advanced, technology,” Trump tweeted Monday

 

[JohnRBaker]

“The United States is learning much from the failed missile explosion in Russia. We have similar, though more advanced, technology,” Trump tweeted Monday

If this is true, did the President of the United States just leak classified information? If it's NOT true, did the President of the United States just lie to the rest of the world? In either case, making comments like this is reckless in today's international environment.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[BrianPetersen]

I know we ought to keep politics out of this ... but ... given recent history, would you expect anything else??

 

[3DDave]

I feel we have a mine shaft gap. Perhaps it's time to stop mountain top removal and go back to sinking small holes again.

 

[davefitz]

15 yrs ago there was a New Scientist article about a claim that an effective neutron bomb could be fabricated using an unstable isotope, so that it technically was not a "nuclear warhead" as defined by the treaties. Shortly thereafter there was an intense campaign to discredit such a claim , so either the isotope powered nuclear warhead was a false idea or it is a true claim but it would be dangerous to allow nations to use this technology , as it is not yet controlled by treaty, so a disinformation campaign was mounted.

"...when logic, and proportion, have fallen, sloppy dead..." Grace Slick

 

[djhurayt]

maybe he was just trying to get as far away as fast as possible
story link

EDIT: typo fix

 

[IRstuff]

I don't recall that anyone tried to discredit the concept of a neutron bomb, per se; it seemed like it was more that the supposed lack of radioactive fallout and other consequences that "kills people and spares buildings" that gave it an "eww" factor and massive dislike.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm

 

[Comcokid]

"Assuming the missile is intended to be a weapon, then what happens to the propulsion nuclear reactor while and after the warhead explodes?"

As originally envisioned, the SLAM nuclear powered missile would be launched and fly race-track patterns over a remote place like the South Pacific. When needed the missile would be directed to, and bomb the target. Afterwards, in order to plow nuclear salt into enemy ground, it would fly race-track patterns turning the enemy territory into a nuclear wasteland. Once launched this missile would be far too radioactive to be dealt with. No plans I'm aware of were made for it to ever land anywhere.

A doomsday weapon? After all, it was the Cold War. Good thing they never built one.

I understand that the engine was tested on a stationary stand. Miles and miles of drilling pipe were setup as a compressed-air tank/reservoir to provide a sonic air source to flow through the engine. This follows with ItSmoked reference to the compressors for the project. Before being used the engine was relatively safe - but afterwards! They used remotely controlled train engines to shuttle the engine to the test stand and back to storage. I read about this in a book somewhere. I think it was done at the Idaho National Lab.

 

[itsmoked]

It was the Hanford site in WA.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[JohnRBaker]

For what it's worth:

Nuclear monitoring stations went mysteriously quiet after Russian missile facility explosion

https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/19/poli...-stations-russian-missile-facility/index.html

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[CWB1]

Not sure how current NASA is comparable to military and/or original NASA

They're comparable being the same agency in different time periods. Until the mid-70s NASA had a strong mandate (beat the Russians) and military leadership driving that mandate. They were also much less reliant on private industry as was our military. I don't see how focusing efforts on common goals is a bad thing, esp when the status quo sucks. The only time it seems to fail is when the team refuses the cooperate, in which case any competent leader immediately terminates them.

If this is true, did the President of the United States just leak classified information?

Its not like he leaked the existence of classified military vehicles and described how to defeat them while they're in daily mass service like the last guy. I'd wager the folks threatened most by this technology already know it exists to some degree.

 

[JohnRBaker]

Its not like he leaked the existence of classified military vehicles and described how to defeat them while they're in daily mass service like the last guy.

Could you please clarify your statement for us?

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[IRstuff]

I was referring specifically to "We've also had NASA on the civilian side, and they've been criticized in recent decades for their inability to accomplish stated goals in a timely manner. " as the point of comparison between the military and NASA, since the military has not exactly been about to "accomplish stated goals in a timely manner." Iraq and Afghanistan come to mind; we spent over a decade in Afghanistan, which is better than what the Soviets managed, but the stated goal of not leaving failed countries has not been realized.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

faq731-376 forum1529 Entire Forum list

http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm