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A comment on The guidance system and computer of the Minuteman III nuclear missile. Parent comment

Re:The guidance system and computer of the Minuteman III nuc... by ghaff on Monday August 19, 2024 @07:57PM (#41295543)
At least modern ICBMs do a star sight to calibrate at the top of their trajectory but, yes, that’s what inertial guidance is. Draper Labs basically pioneered.
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Re:The guidance system and computer of the Minuteman III nuc... by jojobas on Tuesday August 20, 2024 @02:40AM (#41297414)
It's far from the top of their trajectory (by then the warheads are long separated), and only submarine-launched missiles need it.
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Re:The guidance system and computer of the Minuteman III nuc... by ghaff on Tuesday August 20, 2024 @10:06AM (#41300211)
Ah. I'm only somewhat familiar with Trident.
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Re:The guidance system and computer of the Minuteman III nuc... by jojobas on Tuesday August 20, 2024 @09:19PM (#41305833)
Ground-based launch sites can supply both position and orientation very accurately (few seconds of angle), more accurately than stellar correction can, and their gyro platform can keep it within a few seconds of angle as well.

Submarines can determine their position accurately enough, but their orientation data can be improved upon using stars.

The MIRV bus takes in the angular fix just before it starts giving the warheads their individual nudges.

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Re:The guidance system and computer of the Minuteman III nuc... by ghaff on Thursday August 22, 2024 @10:48AM (#41320909)
You obviously know more than I do. I just have some second-hand non-classified info related to submarine-launched.
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