That could change if we re-purposed mothballed ICBMs says Huai-Chien Chang, a University of Tokyo PhD candidate.
According to Chang’s plan, in the event of a cataclysmic disaster, ICBMs packed full of aid and supplies can be launched to a specific location.
Within hours, a payload could softly parachute to the affected area delivering water, food, and temporary shelter to those in need.
Although Chang has yet to calculate the cost of such a re-purposing, he is confident this measure could reduce the cost and response time of aid deliveries, “These rocket engines are still functioning. If we could use these engines, the cost would be very much reduced."
While Chang’s idea seems like a flight of fancy, there is precedent. Orbital Science’s private space venture uses decommissioned Peacekeeper missiles for the first three stages of its five stage Minotaur V rocket.
Chang admits that his idea would only be used in dire circumstances, and few areas on the planet would require such drastic measures. "The situations [where ICBMs would be effective] would be very rare, except for islands in the Pacific [Ocean], parts of mainland China, and Antarctica".
But developing the technology, or at least the techniques for re-purposing an ICBM might just be a worthwhile cause.
Image and Video Courtesy of the DoD & TED
Source: Space.com