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Post by Enchant on Mar 24, 2007 8:51:10 GMT -5
Although the chuckle factor hasn't altogether disappeared, the Air Force Research Laboratory and Darpa are beginning a study of options for a reusable upper-stage space travel vehicle -- the same kind of technology that the Marines might need for a ride halfway across the globe.
The effort is called "Hot Eagle," and it could be the first step forward in the Marine Corps' hopes for space travel. Within minutes of bursting into the atmosphere beyond the speed of sound -- and dispatching that ominous sonic boom -- a small squad of Marines could be on the ground and ready to take care of business within 2 hours. [One presentation muses that the capsule might later be picked up by a Osprey or by a "balloon cable and C-17" transport plane. Or, the Marines might "hike out," and "leave [the] crew capsule behind." -- ed.]
The Marine Corps calls the concept the Small Unit Space Transport and Insertion Capability (Sustain). This plan, a growing group of Marine supporters say, is the natural evolution of the service's proclivity for expeditionary warfare that began decades ago with amphibious landings...
The concept is to deliver strategic equipment or a small squad of soldiers to any point on the globe -- even the most hard-to-reach location -- within hours of need. Once on the ground, those soldiers can carry out strategically critical missions like or destroying a specific target.
At least, that's their pitch. [source defensetech.org.]
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Post by Shooshoo on Mar 31, 2007 18:02:10 GMT -5
Well.... I'm not sure what to say about this one Enchant I suppose the theory is possible but surely it would be very expensive and wouldn't there be a limit as to the number of Marines that could be transported this way? I think this might be a long way in to the future
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Post by Mistress Rell on Apr 8, 2007 9:38:38 GMT -5
I agree with Shoo. Unless they've been developing this in secrecy, it'll be along way off before we have Marines floating around the globe.
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