should be modified to defend Earth from asteroids, mentioning a major
explosionover the Urals earlier this year.
According to senior rocket researcher Sabit Saitgarayev, the
Soviet-era SS-18 "Satan" heavy intercontinental ballisticmissiles were
ideal for conversion into a rapid-reaction anti-asteroid system.
Mr Saitgarayev pointed to the destructive power of the meteor which
burst over the Russian Ural Mountains on February 15.
The sonic boom of the airburst blew out windows and damaged thousands
of buildings around the city of Chelyabinsk.
Approximately 1200 people were injured, 50 were hospitalised.
According to NASA data, the space rock have been some 15metres in diameter.
Mr Saitgarayev said, "The old 1960s-era Soviet "Satan" missiles were
ideally suited to such an interception role as they could be held
ready for launch for up to 10 years.
Carrier rockets created on the basis of intercontinental ballistic
missiles like Satan, which use standard liquid fuelbased on hydrazine,
are well-suited for fighting suddenly discovered small objects.
They can stay in the conditionof their readiness for launch for ten
and more years, after some re-equipping."
That is why this would enable "Satan" to be launched against an
inbound asteroid with only 20 minutes warning.
While most modern missile systems need several days to fuel, and this
is usually done before a scheduled launch.
Saitgarayev said giving the "Satan" an upgrade including a third stage
booster would enable it to target – and destroy – asteroids some five
to six hours before they wouldstrike the Earth.
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