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Rokenn · 04-08-2004, 10:34 AM

Here is a weird news bit.

STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WEAPONS: Peacekeeper Put to Sleep

April 6, 2004: In order to meet disarmament treaty obligations, the United States is retiring it's most recent ICBM design, the Peacekeeper. Older Minuteman III ICBMs will be upgraded to replace the retired missiles. The Peacekeeper entered service in 1986, as the ultimate Cold War era ICBM. Only 23 Peacekeepers are still in service.

The upgrading of the older Minuteman III missiles has been under way for several years. The air force is in the process of replacing the decades old solid fuel rockets of its 500 Minuteman III missiles. Actually, a test of a 33 year old Minuteman I rocket motor showed that the motor (actually, a long tube full of slow burning explosives) still performed according to specification. The last of the Minuteman III missiles will receive their new motors by 2008. It costs about $5.2 million to replace the rockets on each missile. The new rocket motors, which have to comply with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) rules, will have a shorter range than the original motors (which was classified, but thought to be nearly 10,000 kilometers, based on where the missiles were stationed and where likely Russian targets were.)

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It good to know that in the 30 some old minutes between the start of a nuclear war and the end of one we will not have to worry about dangerous emmissions from all those missles flying overhead!

04-08-2004, 10:34 AM	#1
Rokenn Galvatron Join Date: January 22, 2002 Location: california wine country Age: 61 Posts: 2,193	Here is a weird news bit. STRATEGIC NUCLEAR WEAPONS: Peacekeeper Put to Sleep April 6, 2004: In order to meet disarmament treaty obligations, the United States is retiring it's most recent ICBM design, the Peacekeeper. Older Minuteman III ICBMs will be upgraded to replace the retired missiles. The Peacekeeper entered service in 1986, as the ultimate Cold War era ICBM. Only 23 Peacekeepers are still in service. The upgrading of the older Minuteman III missiles has been under way for several years. The air force is in the process of replacing the decades old solid fuel rockets of its 500 Minuteman III missiles. Actually, a test of a 33 year old Minuteman I rocket motor showed that the motor (actually, a long tube full of slow burning explosives) still performed according to specification. The last of the Minuteman III missiles will receive their new motors by 2008. It costs about $5.2 million to replace the rockets on each missile. The new rocket motors, which have to comply with EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) rules, will have a shorter range than the original motors (which was classified, but thought to be nearly 10,000 kilometers, based on where the missiles were stationed and where likely Russian targets were.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It good to know that in the 30 some old minutes between the start of a nuclear war and the end of one we will not have to worry about dangerous emmissions from all those missles flying overhead! __________________ “This is an impressive crowd, the haves and the have mores. <br />Some people call you the elite. <br />I call you my base.”<br />~ George W. Bush (2000)