http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/detail/iran-is-prepared-for-the-new-orbital-launches?f=puball
This is a serious, new development. Iran is preparing for an orbital satellite launch, reportedly within 3 months.
From what I understand, the flight profile and payload characteristics of an orbital satellite launch are virtually identical to that of an ICBM with a warhead. ICBMs are long-range missiles – more than 3,400 miles – designed for nuclear weapons delivery – one or more nuclear warheads. A single missile can carry several warheads which can strike different targets. Payloads are 30 megatons plus. (As a basis of comparison, Little Boy (the bomb used in Hiroshima) had a payload of 16 kilotons (1 megaton = 1000 kilotons) and Fat Man (Nagasaki) had a payload of 20 kilotons.)
(Military people who may have more information on this development and a greater understanding of the technology, please weigh in).
Scarier is the prospect of our government’s current negotiations with Iran (recently appointed to the U.N. Nuclear Disarmament Committee), while the American people are watching a charade in Washington.
Janet Levy,
Los Angeles
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