‘Star Wars’ Concept

If Teller expects “Star Wars” to be workable and timely many of us have urgent news for him. There is no doubt that Teller and his colleagues have their smarts in physics and computer science, but they know as much about outer space structures as I do about nuclear physics--i.e., very little.

To design precision focusing mirrors and the support structure, free of thermal vibrations in space, will be a monumental task. The selection of materials for the support structure, exposed to the space environment for protracted periods of time, is an additional problem. There are many other design obstacles.

In the past it has been typical of most theoreticians to dump the task of assembling a final and workable item into the laps of the material and structures design engineers. In other words we’ve done our job now you do yours.

The Strategic Defense Initiative is possibly the most complex system ever envisioned. Such a system cannot be successfully engineered without consulting the designers of structure, machinery, and functional equipment. Now it is imperative for the various disciplines to work as a team, otherwise “Star Wars” will not be cost-effective and it may not even defend.

R.H. CHRISTENSEN

San Pedro