Replies

I don't believe either the "calm seas" nor the "10 second launch window" I heard in press "reports" leading up to this. The VLS system can launch in significant seas. The ship's onboard computer - the Aegis weapons system - can compensate for ship motion and shoot at the moment the deck is level, or even pitched in a favorable direction.

I think both items may have been a little mis-information and/or simply laying the groundwork for an excuse on a pass on one shot/orbit while waiting for the next. Most people don't want to hear the gory technical details, and some of them we don't want released.

I posted the following on another thread:

"A major interception issue is the limited target interception window. Assuming initial/mid-course command & control is limited to line-of-sight, a low-orbit target is a heckuva a challenge since horizon-to-horizon transit time is limited. Acquiring the target, calculating and downloading the initial azimuth/attitude launch parameters to the missile, launching the missile, and providing en-route guidance to place the warhead in the terminal acquistion basket in less than a couple of minutes is impressive, computer-asisted or not.

To put an additional "spin" on this, think of angular velocity and shooting skeet. A low-orbit satellite has a very high angular velocity compared to, say the ISS or GPS sats, or to an ICBM at mid-course apogee. Hitting a bird with a high angular velocity requires a helluva lot of target lead/windage.

Acquiring/targeting/launching/guiding/hitting a low-orbit target is a significant accomplishment. Gratz to all concerned!"

Bravo Zulu to the U.S.S. LAKE ERIE! The boys done good. :-)