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Relic Russian ICBM To the Rescue for Science

Posted by timothy on from the swords-into-satellites dept.

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."

7 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Check it over reallllly good folks by nizo · · Score: 4, Funny
    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.

    --
    I Am My Own Worst Enemy
    1. Re:Check it over reallllly good folks by idontgno · · Score: 4, Funny
      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.

      --
      Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
    2. Re:Check it over reallllly good folks by tandr · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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.

  2. The ICBM contains...... by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny

    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?

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  3. If it *does* head for DC... by mogrify · · Score: 4, Funny

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

    --
    perl -e 'foreach(values %SIG){$_="IGNORE";}while(){}'
  4. Sealaunch, Redstone, Titan and others by starbird · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

  5. ICBM re-use by Migraineman · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.