Question

UPSC Prelims 2022 Question:

Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the "Fractional Orbital Bombardment System" often talked about in media?

1. A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.
2. A spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions.
3. A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.
4. A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same speed and places a probe on its surface.

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3: A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.

Detailed Solution

Explanation:

The idea behind Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS) is to put a warhead into a stable orbit and deorbit it over the target. If the target and the launch position is lined up and the warhead keeps going round, it will complete a circle. Obviously, with the earth moving during this, it is more of a spiral than a ring, but the horizontal movement is countered in such a way that the warhead still goes over the target. The real point is that missile can be flown directly to the target, or it is fired in the opposite direction the other way around the planet and still arrive at the target from the opposite direction.

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Science & Technology|Defence and Related Developments

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