SpudFiles

This is one of coolest things I've ever seen. It almost looks like it's CGI but it's the real deal.

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LOCKHEED MARTIN TEAM CONDUCTS FREE-FLIGHT HOVER TEST OF MDA'S MULTIPLE KILL VEHICLE-L, Wall Street Journal (Market Watch), Dec 4, 2008. Lockheed Martin Corporation announced today that its team successfully conducted a free-flight hover test of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency's Multiple Kill Vehicle-L. Conducted Dec. 2 at the National Hover Test Facility at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., the test met all objectivesThe full-scale prototype flew at an altitude of approximately 23 feet (7 meters) for 20 seconds, maneuvering while simultaneously tracking a target. "This test demonstrated the integrated operation of the MKV-L in near-earth flight," said Rick Reginato, Multiple Kill Vehicle program director, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "This represents a major step forward for the earliest operational payload designed to destroy multiple threat objects with a single missile defense interceptor."

I don't exactly understand what it's for? is it missile defence?

its cool regardless though.

I have to say, it looks like CGI to me.

That would have to be some utterly sick thruster control to stabilise a brick like that. Certainly looks like it's got that going.

ALIHISGREAT wrote:I don't exactly understand what it's for? is it missile defence?

As far as I know its purpose is to stand in the path on incoming ballistic missiles and destroy them on impact. They had shown footage of a similar vehicle years ago on a Discovery channel documentary whose name escapes me.

Here's a little more detail on it's usage. I'm not sure if it stands in the way of the incoming missile or gets in range to shoot it down.

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jackssmirkingrevenge wrote:

ALIHISGREAT wrote:I don't exactly understand what it's for? is it missile defence?

As far as I know its purpose is to stand in the path on incoming ballistic missiles and destroy them on impact. They had shown footage of a similar vehicle years ago on a Discovery channel documentary whose name escapes me.

i wouldn't trust that with my life! what if a gust of wind blew it out of the way

ALI, it's in NEO.

ALIHISGREAT wrote:i wouldn't trust that with my life! what if a gust of wind blew it out of the way

There won't be any gusts of wind in outer space. However, my guess is that this thing could respond to average gusts of wind just fine...seeing the level of total control those thrusters apply to the job.

Well looks like the hoverbot there is a prototype of one of the killbots to chase after warheads.

Looks like lots of fun and bound to get someone else set on designing a weapon to defeat it...

Arms racing at it's finest. Don't even need to be in combat.

This could be the first space mine!

Could be. However I believe there's an agreement not to have weapons based in space.

Which I also believe will last exactly up til the point where the advantages of sticking weaponry up in space outweigh whatever any opposing country can do about it.

Agreements only last between equals or where there's nothing to be gained.

From the animation, I think it's supposed to be launched as needed, not based in space.

Yeah, also the gyroscopic sensors would have act differently in space than with the ground as a reference. I'm really just speculating....

In space it would hover any ways...Why would it need that engine thing then? I doubt it is supposed to launch its self into space, i guess it is ment for use on earth...Os on the use of some planet but it requires gravity to work(as far as i can see) without flying off. Any one know what fuel is being used?