The ‘Rod of God’: Theoretical Kinetic Energy Weaponry from Space
The ‘Rod of God’: Theoretical Kinetic Energy Weaponry from Space
In the realm of theoretical weaponry, the ‘Rod of God’ is a concept that sparks intrigue and debate amongst military strategists, physicists, and science fiction enthusiasts alike. Its …
The Concept
The idea behind the ‘Rod of God’ is strikingly simple: what goes up must come down. The weapon consists of a pair of satellites, one of which houses a series of tungsten rods, each about 20 feet long and one foot in diameter. These rods would be deployed towards Earth, gaining speed as they descend due to the pull of gravity. By the time they reach the surface, the rods would be traveling at a speed of up to 10 kilometers per second—approximately 30 times the speed of sound.
Upon impact, the kinetic energy of the rods would be released, causing an explosion akin to a nuclear bomb but without the associated fallout or radiation. This could, theoretically, allow for highly targeted, extremely powerful strikes without the geopolitical ramifications associated with the use of nuclear weapons.
Do we really need more methods of mass murder? In theory it would be a good replacement for the world annihilating threat of nuclear war, but I’m sure those at the levers of power would also have much less problem using it on an unruly population center or group of dissidents. Takes us one step further to complete domination by the rich