LIQUID EXOATMOSPHERIC COUNTERMEASURES

LIQUIDS RELEASED INTO SPACE OFFER HIGH POTENTIAL AS COUNTERMEASURE AGAINST SDI DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE BALLISTIC MISSILES DURING THEIR EXOATMOSPHERIC FLIGHT PHASES. THE COUNTERMEASURE POTENTIAL INCLUDES THE ABILITY TO THWART DETECTION AND DISCRIMINATION SYSTEMS, REDUCE DEW EFFECTIVENESS, AND DEFEAT KEW ATTACK. STREAMS AND SPRAYS OF SELECT LIQUIDS WOULD BE USED TO MASK THE DEPLOYMENT OF RVS AND PENETRATION AIDS. THE RESULTING CLOUD OF DROPLETS AND ICE PARTICLES IS EXPECTED TO ABSORB, REFLECT AND SCATTER INCIDENT DEW RADIATIONS. KEW PROJECTILES WHICH TRAVERSE THIS CLOUD WOULD EXPERIENCE DAMAGE TO SENSORS, ELECTRONICS AND PROPULSION SUBSYSTEMS. SUCCESS IN ANY ONE OF THESE AREAS WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF AN SDI DEFENSIVE SYSTEM. PHASE I WILL INVESTIGATE THE TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICALITY ISSUES NECESSARY TO DETERMINE CONCEPT FEASIBILITY. THE PRINCIPAL AREA OF CONCERN IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF EMPERICAL RELATIONSHIPS GOVERNING THE BEHAVIOR OF LIQUIDS RELESED INTO A SPACE ENVIRONMENT. THE INTERACTION OF THE RELESED LIQUIDS ON THE OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF THE PBV WILL ALSO BE ADDRESSED. RESULTS OF PHASE I WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR AN EXTENSIVE GROUND AND FLIGHT TEST PROGRAM DURING PHASE II.