Artbrooks, there is a bit more to the "Rods from God" thing than science fiction.

Bush and members of his administration have talked several times about reinstituting Reagan's SDI ("Star Wars"). One of the projected weapons is a non-explosive-bearing missile called a "flechette." It could be dropped on a target from orbit. The energy dissipated from striking its target with the velocity it would build up from such a fall would provide a most "satisfactory" explosion. Some time back I learned that one of the minds behind this was an old friend of mine, science fiction writer Jerry Pournelle.

Back in the late Fifties and early Sixties, Jerry Pournelle and I used to bend our elbows and wet our noses at the notorious Blue Moon Tavern in Seattle. Jerry is a real bright guy (in spite of being pretty conservative), and we used to have some interesting discussions and arguments. This was before I had a clue that he was even interested in writing science fiction. He lives in the Los Angeles area now, and I haven't seen him since 1985 when he and Larry Niven were in Seattle for a book signing (Footfall).

In addition to collaborating with Larry Niven to write several best-selling science fiction novels, Jerry is a thoroughly grounded scientist—and he is chairman of the Citizens Advisory Council on National Space Policy. Used to dropping rocks and stuff in his novels (both Footfall and the earlier Lucifer's Hammer), he suggested the idea, which he originally named "Thor" after the Norse god of thunder. The Pentagon won't say how far along the project, or variants of the idea, may be in development, but it's definitely on the drawing boards.

The weapons system would consist of orbiting platforms stocked with tungsten rods perhaps 20 feet long and one foot in diameter that could be satellite-guided to targets anywhere on Earth within minutes. Accurate to within about 25 feet, they would strike at speeds upwards of 12,000 feet per second, enough to destroy even hardened bunkers several stories underground. No explosives would be needed. The speed and weight of the rods would lend them all the force they need. The general principle was applied in Iraq, although at lower velocities and not from orbit, but from high altitudes, to destroy tanks that Saddam's forces shielded near mosques, schools or hospitals. U.S. aviators used concrete practice bombs.

Googling around a bit came up with this:—

The written reports on THOR suggested the projectiles be made of tungsten, or even (for some applications) depleted uranium. They would have seekers built into the nose, and very small guidance fins on the tail, not unlike a large, guided flechette. Striking their targets at near orbital velocity, they could punch through an armored warship's deck, or through the doors of a missile silo. Jerry Pournelle suggested that the seekers could be made to discriminate between various types of armored vehicles, and that they could even hit moving targets.

As I'm sure you are aware, many things we take for granted today started out as science fiction. I'm sitting in front of one, in fact, watching my words appear on the screen.

Don Firth