MBTs - TANKS - PANZERN
Posted 03 October 2003 - 04:46 PM
1 October 2003
SMART-1's revolutionary propulsion system was successfully fired at 12:25 UT on 30 September, 2003, in orbit around the Earth.
Engineers at ESOC, the European Space Agency's control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, sent a command to begin the firing test, which lasted for one hour. This was similar to a trial performed on Earth before SMART-1 was launched.
Several months ago, the ion engine, or Solar Electric Primary Propulsion (SEPP) system, had been placed in a vacuum chamber on the ground and its functions and operation were measured. Now in space and in a true vacuum, the ion engine actually worked better than in the test on ground and has nudged SMART-1 a little closer to the Moon.
This is the first time that Europe flies an electric primary propulsion in space, and also the first European use of this particular type of ion engine, called a 'Hall-effect' thruster.
The SEPP consists of a single ion engine fuelled by xenon gas and powered by solar energy. The ion engine will accelerate SMART-1 very gradually to cause the spacecraft to travel in a series of spiralling orbits - each revolution slightly further away from the Earth - towards the Moon. Once captured by the Moon's gravity, SMART-1 will move into ever-closer orbits of the Moon.
As part of one of the overall mission objectives to test this new SEPP technology, the data will now be analysed to see how much acceleration was achieved and how smoothly the spacecraft travelled. If the ion engine is performing to expectations, ESA engineers will regularly power up the SEPP to send SMART-1 on its way.
Posted 03 October 2003 - 05:17 PM
Gun Confiscation Legislation Passes Through Senate 99-0
Eager to lend their names to anti-terror legislation, senators unwittingly passed a new gun grabbing law.
Exclusive to American Free Press
By Mike Blair
The Senate has unanimously passed the most dangerous piece of anti-gun legislation in history. By 99 to 0, with Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) not voting due to illness, the Senate approved Oct. 2 defense spending of $345 billion, which also authorizes the department to render useless hundreds of thousands of surplus military rifles that have been sold to American citizens for centuries.
The Senate actually has authorized under Section 1062 of the 2002 Defense Authorization Bill (S.1438) Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to
Posted 03 October 2003 - 05:22 PM
NORTHCOM Chief Says U.S. Better Prepared Against Terror
Posted Oct 03, 2003 at 6:23:AM MDT
Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2003 -- United States is better
prepared to face terrorist thThe reats today and the U.S.
Northern Command will continue to improve U.S.
capabilities, the head of that unified command said today.
During an interview in the Pentagon, Air Force Gen. Ralph
Eberhart said Northern Command brings a focus on planning
and training to the homeland defense mission that was
The command stood up Oct. 1, 2002. It was declared "fully
operational" Oct. 1, 2003. The command, based in Colorado
Springs, Colo., is responsible for the U.S. military
Posted 03 October 2003 - 05:24 PM
Fri, 03 Oct '03
It's Not a Crime, or Even Terrorism; It's Our Own Military
The Associated Press, in the person of reporter Matt Kelley, brought us the close-up story: our own military practices, over a hundred times a year, the shooting down of a civilian airliner.
Although Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart, head of U.S. Northern Command, said Thursday the protocols for killing hundreds of innocent civilians because the flight crew wasn't armed, and because the Air Marshals were directed to stay off the long-haul flights wereclassified, he also said they were "strong." In other words, "someone can't just get on the radio and say, 'This is the President. I order you to shoot down that plane,'" Eberhart told Kelley.
Eberhart, with his four stars adorning his uniform, is worried that his pilots may not shoot when ordered: "I'm more worried that they would be 'trigger-hesitant' than 'trigger-happy.' We have long discussions with people to see if they're ready to do this," he said. He screens carefully, he said, to make sure that no one will ever question orders; he's going to give the triggers only to those who will obey immediately and without question.
[I'm taking the train... --ed.]
Posted 01 November 2003 - 06:17 PM
(Armoured=MBT, VTT, VCI, AFV, IFV, etc.)
They want a MBT, an armoured VTT, an AFV and an armoured fire-support vehicle with missiles.
The MBT is classical the other are all for infantry.
Posted 01 November 2003 - 06:58 PM
They don't remember that every town or city is a trap for armoured because towns don't give freedom of movement. and moreover to turn a corner or to cross a crossing inside a town it's a game/bet with the fortune.
To be on a more armoured system is not a solution because there is always a more lethal anti-tank device waiting for.
I don't belive in fortune or armoured inside towns but i belive a fast quick system is more lucky than a MBT or armoured inside a town.
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