《BOOSTER CHARACTERISTICS》.PDFVIP

Section 2 BOOSTER CHARACTERISTICS Section 2 BOOSTER CHARACTERISTICS Intercept of ICBMs in their boost phase offers age cannister. Once clear of the cannister, the advantages and disadvantages relative to inter- missile ignites its first stage motor. The first stage cept of reentry vehicles (RVs) later in the trajec- burns for about 55 seconds, burning out at an tory. The boosters are fewer and generally more altitude of about 22 kilometers. The second stage easily disrupted or destroyed than the RVs. Decoy also burns for 55 see, burning out at 82 km. The boosters would have to match an ICBM’s huge third stage burns for 60 sec and carries the re- heat output, making this offensive tactic attrac- mainder of the missile to about 200 km, the alti- tive only in certain circumstances. The disadvan- tude of the lowest earth orbiting satellites. tages of boost phase intercept are that boost When the third stage is jettisoned at the end phase is only a few minutes long and comprises of the 3-minute boost phase, the remainder of the earliest stage of an attack, and that sensing the missile consists of the post-boost vehicle (PBV) and intercept must be accomplished from outer or ‘‘bus” and its cargo of 10 reentry vehicles. At