/sci/ - Science & Math

>>2954968
Firstly the ship wouldn't even drop a bomb it would just crash into us.

Secondly since a space faring species that uses nuclear pulse propulsion can spread through the galaxy so quickly(less than 1 million years if they have a maximum velocity of 0.1C) The size of a galaxy is not that much of a deterant to conflict. They will want to wipe out any species that could ever pose a threat to them, and they would want to spread to maximize their chances of survival. Basically one million years after the first space fairing lifeform comes into being this galaxy is doomed.

It's in our best interest that we be that doom. We must kill everything else before they kill us.

>>2036358
same faggin

>Given that the Orion uses yield of around .2Kt, the graph (source:wiki 'EMP') indicates pulse density of 20,000 v/m at a distance of 300km away (about the altitude of the International Space Station).

Indeed but 20,000 vs over meter is only enough to cause a failure in 1/10^5 integrated circuits
out side an oval with an maximum diameter of only 140 miles. No failures will occur 180 miles from the launch point regardless of the shape of the EMP foot print. By launching in certain areas of Nevada, Canada, Alaska, or from a barge at sea the EMP problem is eliminated. The propulsive charges would also have lead casings, which would not undergo fission like a uranium casing. So being thermo nuclear charges there would be comparatively little fallout, 1/1080 that of a uranium cased warhead of the same design.

Also most of the radiation released during nuclear testing was from older boosted fission warheads. The lead cased thermonuclear ones like the Tsar Bomba actually contributed very little despite accounting for the majority of nuclear tests. Still there was no reason not to do them underground just to minimize the risks.

For a propulsion design with a high enough deltaV and specific impulse to reach 0.1 after 4 years of acceleration at 60g, I am willing to accept a lot a drawbacks.

Mars in two weeks, Saturn in two months bitches!