Re:Nuclear Pulse Propulsion – Orion and Beyond (2000) [pdf]
by Pinckney on Friday October 14, 2016 @12:24PM
(#12709134)
Since Orion doesn't need to accelerate constantly, it's in principle quite possible to turn it and fire bombs in the direction of any interceptor, and the thick pusher plate makes it actually pretty durable from some aspects. What happens when two Orion ships duel, I don't know, but shooting it down isn't quite as simple as for most other spacecraft.
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Re:Nuclear Pulse Propulsion – Orion and Beyond (2000) [pdf]
by masklinn on Friday October 14, 2016 @12:58PM
(#12709419)
> Since Orion doesn't need to accelerate constantly
If it's coasting along it's significantly increasing transit time and thus available window to consider and prepare counter-measures.
> it's in principle quite possible to turn it and fire bombs in the direction of any interceptor
Sure but that means less payload to deliver and even more time for the target to prepare counter-measures.
> and the thick pusher plate makes it actually pretty durable from some aspects.
No matter how thick your pusher plates are they're not going to stand up to the kind of kinetic impact involved.