Relic Russian ICBM To the Rescue for Science

helio writes "Japanese space agency, JAXA, has announced that the agency will use DNEPR space launch system to launch OICETS (Optical Inter-Orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite). Initially OICETS was to be launched with Japan's H-IIA rocket, however the delay in their development and a lack of time in the schedule force JAXA to utilize Russian's DNEPR system. For those who are too young to remember Cold War, DNEPR space launch system used to be Russian's inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM). As you may guess, the OICETS satellite will be launched from a silo."

Comments

Check it over reallllly good folks

[nizo]

Boy are they going to be suprised if the backup systems kick in and the ICBM slams into Washington D.C.

Seriously however, I can't think of a better use for old Russian ICBMs.

Re:Check it over reallllly good folks

[idontgno]

Lets hope that the US doesn't have an automated response system that watches for anything coming out of the silos. It doesn't make for good international relations to launch a couple thousand nukes in response to communications satellite.

Oh, good point, good point. Put that into the "Cost" column in the Cost-Benefit analysis for our Global Satellite Telecommunications Domination plan.

Re:Check it over reallllly good folks

[tandr]

Seriously however, I can't think of a better use for old Russian ICBMs.

Well, I could not think of better use for old American ICBMs either. Or Chinese.

The ICBM contains......

[AtariAmarok]

The ICBM contains a beowulf-cluster of sharks with friggen lazer beams mounted on their heads. It be be piloted by giant alien ant overlords (which I welcome) led by Bruce Willis. There, does that cover it all?

Russians, military funding, and the private sector

[Tackhead]

In addition to the Japanese project, a Russian nuclear sub crew will get some live-fire training while launching the (privately-funded) Planetary Society's Cosmos 1 solar sail project in March of 2005.

There are also companies that partner with Russian airbases to take wealthy Westerners up in basically anything with wings. Having a Yankee in the back seat pays for the gas and maintenance, and helps the pilot get some flight hours.

Hey, if you're short on hard currency to pay your troops, why not take some Western cash and make someone happy (whether it be through launching a space probe or giving 'em the ride of a lifetime) while your troops are getting their training.

If it *does* head for DC...

[mogrify]

... I think we can be reasonably certain that our brand-new, fully-functioning ballistic missile defense system will not intercept it...

About time

[AviLazar]

It is nice to finally see some old war technology used for beneficial purposes. While this is not the first time it has been done - it is always nice to hear. Especially when a group takes an obvious military weapon only device and transforms it into something useful (i.e. the military uses decomissioned tanks to make barrier reefs).

Sealaunch, Redstone, Titan and others

[starbird]

There have been a number of rockets that were originally designed as ICBMs and then used for commercial and other purposes, it's not that uncommon. The original Redstone rockets used for Mercury came right from the USAF. Instead of being loaded with a nuclear payload they recieved a capsule. Same with Gemini and its Titan rockets.

Sealaunch uses Zenit for the first stage in their launcher. They wre originally designed as a quick launch ICBM by the Soviets. The launch facility was a truck and the whole system was designed to fit inside of a rail tunnel, to stay out of sight from american spy satellites.

Re:Sealaunch, Redstone, Titan and others

[LWATCDR]

"USAF developed Atlas as an IRBM."
Actually no the Atlas was an ICBM not an IRBM the Air Force IRBM was the Thor that ended up being made into the Delta. The Air Force also got the Jupiter IRBM after it was taken away from the Army.

Also the new Atlas V is very different than the original Atlas. For one the Atlas used what is called 1 1/2 staging. It used three rocket engines feeding from one set of tanks. It then dropped the two booster engines. The tank was also very unusual in that it was a "balloon" style tank made of super thin stainless steel it was pressurized to give it strength. Then new Atlas uses a single Russian engine and a conventional structure. So if the structure is different and the engines are different what is the same?
BTW for reference take a look at this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_ICBM
And from the Wikipedia listing "The newest version of Atlas, the Atlas V, is an Atlas in name alone as it contains little Atlas technology. It no longer uses balloon tanks nor 1.5 staging, but incorporates a rigid framework for its first stage booster much like the Titan family of vehicles. Ironically, given Atlas's origin as a military weapon, the Atlas III and Atlas V use Russian-designed engines." Hey I did not even write that entry :) Oh and the Atlas always used RP/LOX and never used alcohol.
"Titan was the only liquid fueled ICBM for the US." No the Titan I, Titan II, and Atlas where all ICBMs so it was three. The Titan I and Titan II where in the same family but very different machines. They used different fuels and the Titan II used storeables while the Titan I had to be fuel right before launch. The Titan I had a very short life span.
"Now the ultimate irony will be when NASA starts using a few MX Peacekeeper rockets as launchers..."
Already happening.

Re:Serious Comment: Japan & Russia

[BranMan]

Well, I'm sure it's kind of mutual. Chinese have a LOONG memory, and it's only been ~60 years since the occupation of China by the Japanese was ended. The Japanese conduct in China won them great emnity - I'm sure China considers Japan a Hostile Power even after all this time.

ICBM re-use

[Migraineman]

Both the US and the former-Soviets have programs to dispose of ICBMs through commercial-use conversions. The US turns Peacekeeper ICBMs into Taurus launch vehicles. Stanford University launched a bunch of picosats on the first Minotaur - a hybrid of the Minuteman ICBM and Pegasus upper stages. The DNEPR has launched a couple of small satellites already, and has a number of Cubesats on-deck. You can coordinate getting a Cubesat on a DNEPR launch through OSSS or TransOrbital.