September 19, 2006 > Fremont Rotary holds rocket powered meeting

Fremont Rotary had a rocket in its pocket last week as guest speaker, Rod Broyles of Lockheed-Martin, held everyone's attention with a "no questions, please" talk about THAAD. A small peek behind the classified curtain allowed members and guests to marvel at the engineering behind the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense integrated weapons system. It seems almost impossible to construct a system that can detect a missile threat, launch, maneuver and intercept an object traveling at incredible speeds, yet it appears the "Houdinis" of Lockheed-Martin have done just that.

Linked with command systems and instantaneous communication links, this ingenious interceptor has a solid propellant booster and liquid-fueled "Divert and Attitude Control System that, if necessary, performs a corkscrew maneuver after launch to burn off any excess solid propellant before interception either within the earth's atmosphere or "exo-atmosphere." In either event, the result is the same; a collision with an incoming missile and its subsequent destruction.

Want to know more? Sorry, I haven't been cleared to reveal anything else. But you might try going to: http://www.missilesandfirecontrol.com/our_products/airdefense/THAAD/product-THAAD.html

Fremont Rotary
Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m.
Massimo's Restaurant
5200 Mowry Ave., Fremont
(510) 792-2000