"We have vowed that we shall not see space filled with weapons of mass destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding." -- John F. Kennedy
@@batboy-xf3ki This is interesting because I would consider many satellites as weapons. They don't have guns on them but many are used in the operations of weapons systems.
@@Dh4v0c To make a simple statement that technology we have in space is used in military operations and in my opinion could be considered weapons systems in space doesn't make me a hypocrite. I never said I was against the use of them. Therefore, reread what I wrote before you decide to comment. It will keep you from looking foolish.
I remember how some years ago this gun was still a myth and it was only known that a "Nudelmann" gun was aboard the Almaz station. There were speculations about the model number on the wiki page and whether it had actually been fired. And now we have the data front to back.
It is a "Star Wars" adjacent project for the USAF developed and field in the 1990s through the 2000s. The Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed (formerly Airborne Laser) weapons system was a megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) mounted inside a modified military Boeing 747-400F. Here is an interesting plane and test program worth exploring.
the rods from god program was my personal favorite,not only did they have tungsten telephone poles but one idea was to drop uranium and let the impact cause it to be smashed into a super-critical mass and kick off a nuke
Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"
Agreed orbit is the new high ground, aircraft carriers and other large targets will go the way of the cavalry charge in WW1 and the battleship in WWII in the next real conflict.
That cannon was put on that space station because of the Space Shuttle. The payload Bay of the SST was suspiciously similar to the size of previous Soviet stations and the rated downmass was also suspiciously close, too. So the Soviets planted a special surprise for the Americans if ever they came a-knocking at an inopertune time. The firing of the cannon cause a disaster within the station: all kinds of things came unmoored and piping went astray. Which was precisely what the engineers predicted.
It’s official, Simon has done so many videos that they can’t keep track of what they’ve done lol. He has stopped and laughed on other channels and said wait, have I done this video before?
@E Van but...that intro is part of the whole story right, now I feel only I watch it whole. In fact I liked original Megaprojects much more, videos were longer and I learned actually smh new, after some time they sliced the time and now most of the things I already know...
@E Van huh, never looked it like that (me)... before subject he gives context which is for me even more valuable usually cause often subjects are things that Im already pretty familiar with, so Im often missing its background, context and such, it all then connects better
Star Wars worked: it forced the Soviets to spend themselves into collapse. In the end, it didn’t matter if the US program’s individual components would have worked when deployed, it just mattered that it was plausible that the would. With today’s technology, such a system is now quite feasible; and with care to select the engagement altitude and trajectory, Kessler Syndrome can be avoided.
It was brilliant. If the enemy develops a plausible capability you’re forced to account for it. We also developed the peacekeeper missile system to trade it away.
Firing a projectile weapon in space presents many challenges. The (equal and opposite) reaction would have to be compensated for with big gyros and/or exact opposite facing thrusters. Shell casings would have to be collected instead of discarded into the space around the craft so to prevent them from becoming uncontrolled projectiles of their own. Carbon dust from the gun would accumulate all over the surface of the craft. Heat would not conduct away from the body of the gun which would eventually melt and damage the craft. The full shuddering recoil of the gun would transfer through the craft without anything to absorb it unless dampeners were mounted with the gun. Most plastic and rubber that dampeners would depend on would be damaged by the extremes of space. There is a property of metal parts in vacuum to bond with each other almost like being welded. Lubricants pose problems of their own in space. Small rockets would be the best bet, because they don't have to transfer momentum to the craft, however, the craft would be buffeted by the rocket exhaust as the rockets leave the craft and resin from the exhaust would build up on the craft. The craft could eject the rocket away mechanically and then turn the rockets "on" after they are away. That still makes their use negligible considering that the craft and the targets are moving at relative speeds of zero to 60,000 miles per hour. How much rocket fuel would the small rocket have????
He gets most things right, but if you are an expert on anything he covers, you'll find his research team leaves you wanting. A lot of their research is literally ripped from Wikipedia or Reddit posts.
CTA case telescoped ammunition gets a slightly higher velocity and takes up less space(the bullet doesn't stick out it's inside the case making them easier to stack in a smaller area) so it's actually a great idea for a weapon like a satellite that needs to save space
@Jockbigcox for vehicles on the ground ETC canons are a better option CTA doesn't give you enough added velocity for the amount of propellant added so in a war you're wasting valuable materials
Black powder doesn't need oxygen. Turetless tank destroyers use a casemate construction that allows the gun to swifel, elevate and depress a varying number of degrees. Unless it's the Swedish S-Tank, that has a special suspension.
Even with inflated specifications this defensive cannon was a extremely poor concept. Firing a high recoil low velocity cannon from from one orbital platform at another under thrust required complex calculation faster than any computer the Soviet union ever made.
@@PushyPawn That is likely the way they would've solved it, knowing Soviet engineering. I'm not saying it's bad, but I am saying that they choose to solve problems with a certain kind of flare.
I absolutely must take this opportunity to recommend Space Station astronaut Chris Hadfield's book The Apollo Murders, which features something very similar to this, if not exactly this.
Freaky, I just finished The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield and the Rikhter is mentioned in the book. Never heard of it before, now twice in one week.
Which is perfectly normal as many surnames came from what our predecessors did or what was their job.. for example widely used Muller in german speaking countries...
This is most likely a German Jew. When they began to assign surnames in Germany, Jews were often given offensive surnames. Only rich Jews could buy a noble family name. The first wave of Jewish migration to the Russian Empire had no surnames at all. According to legend, the Russian tsarina was informed that the arriving Jews did not have surnames, but only some dog names. To which the queen said: well, assign them surnames by the names of animals. For example, Solovyov, which means belonging to the genus of the nightingale. Later, Jewish migrants already had German surnames.
I'm amazed that the assumption is that there is no armed presence in space. Not that it matters much. The strong endure what they will, the weak endure what they must.
Can I just say that the name "Simon Whistler" is the coolest moniker, escpecially when coupled with the British accent....and a story about space weapons.
Just a clarification. Salyut in russin is a greating. More commonly is military greating but may be used and as formal greating. Like the team salutes their captain, employee salutes their boss (rarely) etc.
I looked it up. It was like a gun that exploded flash bang grenades inside the barrel. I think it could only blind people and break cameras. It was never used in combat.
Two reasons for the multi barrel guns #1 faster rates of fire #2 heat dissipation. #1 is useless without #2, In space the soviet gun would quickly over heat.
@@colbeausabre8842 proof for something that happened in soviet russia in the late 50's? you on shrooms or acid? if it was recorded and that's a big if those records have been burnt long long a go!!!trust me from 1930 to 1995 russia and what happened there is one big black hole!!!
@@SophTheLaunchTechnician that story is going to be around until those italian recordings are proven fake and that's if they are!! let's face it moscow's word back then wasn't exactly unquestionable and calling it bullshit won't help!!
Talking space weapons, how about the Icon missile firing satellite that used a SkyLab derived guidance system according to a famous Clint Eastwood sponsored documentary :-)
? how did they stabilize the satellite in space for firing? ... that thing would be flying and shooting all over space... especially back then when this was all brand new...
I will always be perplexed by the tendency of english speakers to switch letters around in foreign words. I just saw a video about redbull where the guy kept saying "guar" insteadof "gaur".
"We have vowed that we shall not see space filled with weapons of mass destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding." -- John F. Kennedy
I'mma get some knowledge & understandin 'bout how this thing blows up that thing in space.
The space treaty bans all extraterrestrial weapons.
@@batboy-xf3ki This is interesting because I would consider many satellites as weapons. They don't have guns on them but many are used in the operations of weapons systems.
@@zfarrell0507 if you have used a cell phone with gps or any gps system, your a hypocrite
@@Dh4v0c To make a simple statement that technology we have in space is used in military operations and in my opinion could be considered weapons systems in space doesn't make me a hypocrite. I never said I was against the use of them. Therefore, reread what I wrote before you decide to comment. It will keep you from looking foolish.
This is incredible. I never once heard of this.
Little do people know that the "Cold War" was actually fought in hover tanks on the far side of the moon!
For all these years, I have wondered...so that's why they call it the Cold War!
Is this a Battlezone reference or just off the cuff riffing?
@@vigilante8374 Holy crap, I just replayed Battlezone 98 about a month ago and didn’t even think about this. Must have been my subconscious…
It all makes sense now, because the other side would be cold
Megaproject idea. All of Simon's shirts
All of Simons thoughts..
All of Simon's channels....
Or managing all of his channels 😄
@@borecchio424 damn you.!!!.. That's what I was going to type.!!!! 😂 😂 😂 😂
All of Simons whiskers.!!
I remember how some years ago this gun was still a myth and it was only known that a "Nudelmann" gun was aboard the Almaz station. There were speculations about the model number on the wiki page and whether it had actually been fired. And now we have the data front to back.
As a huge fan of KSP, it tickles me you used a KSP image for Salyut 3.
I thought that's what it looked like!
its probably a mistake
It is a "Star Wars" adjacent project for the USAF developed and field in the 1990s through the 2000s. The Boeing YAL-1 Airborne Laser Testbed (formerly Airborne Laser) weapons system was a megawatt-class chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL) mounted inside a modified military Boeing 747-400F. Here is an interesting plane and test program worth exploring.
the rods from god program was my personal favorite,not only did they have tungsten telephone poles but one idea was to drop uranium and let the impact cause it to be smashed into a super-critical mass and kick off a nuke
Is that how 9/11 was done because a lot of material (hundreds of thousands of tons) was disintegrated and an aeroplane would be a potential platform
Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !"
Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ."
Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!"
Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..."
Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!"
Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky."
Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction."
Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"
#FawltyTowers
@@F_L_U_X I KNOW NOTHING !
And your point was...?
@@MrPossumeyes WE HAVE MEAT HERE IN ZE HOTEL !
" you started it !! " , " no we didn't " , " yes you did , you invaded Poland !! " 🤣🤣 Subsitute the Moon for Poland 🤔🤔
Of course the Soviets and the US have fought in space. I’ve watched the 9 part documentary about the Star Wars numerous times.
End of the sentence but you had me at SPACE CANNON !
Agreed orbit is the new high ground, aircraft carriers and other large targets will go the way of the cavalry charge in WW1 and the battleship in WWII in the next real conflict.
@@anydaynow01 no they won't. They'll just learn how to fly.
That cannon was put on that space station because of the Space Shuttle. The payload Bay of the SST was suspiciously similar to the size of previous Soviet stations and the rated downmass was also suspiciously close, too. So the Soviets planted a special surprise for the Americans if ever they came a-knocking at an inopertune time.
The firing of the cannon cause a disaster within the station: all kinds of things came unmoored and piping went astray. Which was precisely what the engineers predicted.
U forgot Marvin the Martian’s Illudium Q-36 or PU Uranium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator 🤪👍
This makes very angry, very angry indeed.
If only the Earth wouldn't block his view of Venus.
I could have sworn you already did this video.
It’s official, Simon has done so many videos that they can’t keep track of what they’ve done lol. He has stopped and laughed on other channels and said wait, have I done this video before?
I remember when the first video about this thing came out. Re-issue?
Maybe he just.. forgot after 2 years?
1:21 background
4:21 the cannon
8:00 test firing
10:34 end
You are Martin!
Kinda unnecessary...
@E Van but...that intro is part of the whole story right, now I feel only I watch it whole. In fact I liked original Megaprojects much more, videos were longer and I learned actually smh new, after some time they sliced the time and now most of the things I already know...
@E Van huh, never looked it like that (me)... before subject he gives context which is for me even more valuable usually cause often subjects are things that Im already pretty familiar with, so Im often missing its background, context and such, it all then connects better
Star Wars worked: it forced the Soviets to spend themselves into collapse. In the end, it didn’t matter if the US program’s individual components would have worked when deployed, it just mattered that it was plausible that the would. With today’s technology, such a system is now quite feasible; and with care to select the engagement altitude and trajectory, Kessler Syndrome can be avoided.
It was brilliant. If the enemy develops a plausible capability you’re forced to account for it. We also developed the peacekeeper missile system to trade it away.
Yup! 👍 Regan was so much better than Trump, it’s tragic.
@@TamagoHead Yet even Carter was better than #46. Even more tragic
It did work to destroy our enemy. I also think the system is plausible now because it was a goal we spent researching money on.
Such a bullshito statement
Firing a projectile weapon in space presents many challenges. The (equal and opposite) reaction would have to be compensated for with big gyros and/or exact opposite facing thrusters. Shell casings would have to be collected instead of discarded into the space around the craft so to prevent them from becoming uncontrolled projectiles of their own. Carbon dust from the gun would accumulate all over the surface of the craft. Heat would not conduct away from the body of the gun which would eventually melt and damage the craft. The full shuddering recoil of the gun would transfer through the craft without anything to absorb it unless dampeners were mounted with the gun. Most plastic and rubber that dampeners would depend on would be damaged by the extremes of space. There is a property of metal parts in vacuum to bond with each other almost like being welded. Lubricants pose problems of their own in space. Small rockets would be the best bet, because they don't have to transfer momentum to the craft, however, the craft would be buffeted by the rocket exhaust as the rockets leave the craft and resin from the exhaust would build up on the craft. The craft could eject the rocket away mechanically and then turn the rockets "on" after they are away. That still makes their use negligible considering that the craft and the targets are moving at relative speeds of zero to 60,000 miles per hour. How much rocket fuel would the small rocket have????
Undeniable, You do produce phenomenal videos.
He gets most things right, but if you are an expert on anything he covers, you'll find his research team leaves you wanting. A lot of their research is literally ripped from Wikipedia or Reddit posts.
I bet that's a Space Laser in disguise and MTG was ahead of her time!
CTA case telescoped ammunition gets a slightly higher velocity and takes up less space(the bullet doesn't stick out it's inside the case making them easier to stack in a smaller area) so it's actually a great idea for a weapon like a satellite that needs to save space
@Jockbigcox does it go in a vehicle or is it man portable?
@Jockbigcox for vehicles on the ground ETC canons are a better option CTA doesn't give you enough added velocity for the amount of propellant added so in a war you're wasting valuable materials
Black powder doesn't need oxygen. Turetless tank destroyers use a casemate construction that allows the gun to swifel, elevate and depress a varying number of degrees. Unless it's the Swedish S-Tank, that has a special suspension.
Even with inflated specifications this defensive cannon was a extremely poor concept. Firing a high recoil low velocity cannon from from one orbital platform at another under thrust required complex calculation faster than any computer the Soviet union ever made.
They could have joined two cannons facing opposite directions and fired both simultaneously.
Problem solved.
@@PushyPawn just use a counter mass system!!! the recoilless rifles from WW2 and Korea had that tech!!!
@@PushyPawn That is likely the way they would've solved it, knowing Soviet engineering. I'm not saying it's bad, but I am saying that they choose to solve problems with a certain kind of flare.
@@keithmoore5306 That is not at all comparable.
@@CharliMorganMusic that's a good description
I absolutely must take this opportunity to recommend Space Station astronaut Chris Hadfield's book The Apollo Murders, which features something very similar to this, if not exactly this.
I've always wondered where technology would be today without the Cold War.
Without ww2 Is the real question
We’d probably be at least 20-30 years behind our current technological progress .
Depends what you think the free market would have done with those billions in tax cuts.
Freaky, I just finished The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield and the Rikhter is mentioned in the book. Never heard of it before, now twice in one week.
Ain’t it mind boggling when that kind of stuff happens. I’ve had that happen quite a few times myself
I have read that the first toilet paper factory inn USSR was built in 1968.
Gagarin, toilet paper, perspectives and priorities...
Fun fact: "Nudelmann" in German simply means "noodle man"
Which is perfectly normal as many surnames came from what our predecessors did or what was their job.. for example widely used Muller in german speaking countries...
@@xmeda Muller = Yoghurt man?
@@ek8710 Hehe, more like miller.
appropriate seeing how this gun is a derivative of German WW 2 20mm cannons!!!
This is most likely a German Jew. When they began to assign surnames in Germany, Jews were often given offensive surnames. Only rich Jews could buy a noble family name.
The first wave of Jewish migration to the Russian Empire had no surnames at all. According to legend, the Russian tsarina was informed that the arriving Jews did not have surnames, but only some dog names. To which the queen said: well, assign them surnames by the names of animals.
For example, Solovyov, which means belonging to the genus of the nightingale. Later, Jewish migrants already had German surnames.
See you at the party, Rikhter!
It must be so easy for the British. They just absorb every gift America provides for them, while mocking any mistakes. Kinda like Canada…
I'm amazed that the assumption is that there is no armed presence in space. Not that it matters much. The strong endure what they will, the weak endure what they must.
Can you cover the history of Monster Trucks?
It has impacted many generations and generated millions and millions of dollars.
Yes this
This thing is off the Rikhter
Best comment by far 👌
Excellent stuff bro
Lol the KSP screenshot for SALYUT 3 3:28
It would be interesting to know what weapons are flying above our heads.
Laika the space dog died from overheating within hours of lift off. This is the origin of the word Hot Dog.
Can I just say that the name "Simon Whistler" is the coolest moniker, escpecially when coupled with the British accent....and a story about space weapons.
"See you at the Pahty, Rikhter!"
Yes! I woulda been disappointed to not see this comment!
how come he's made another video about the Rikhter R-23 when he made one in 2020 about the same thing ?
Didn't you guys make this video 2 or 3 years ago?
Firing a Cannon in Space...I hope it comes with an Ejection module...
The telescoped ammo sounds a lot like the 7.62x38 mm Nagant ammo used in the Nagant M1895 Revolver.
The best lie's are wrapped in the best intentions and tied with a bow of the noblest of ideas.
Just a clarification. Salyut in russin is a greating. More commonly is military greating but may be used and as formal greating. Like the team salutes their captain, employee salutes their boss (rarely) etc.
Good video 👍
Vid pic: Apache helicopter with random jet engine stuck on the side in space for reasons.
Fancy!
THIS is a "Megaproject"?
A cannon..
9:51 and that man ...because the first person in the history of our species... to fire a gun in space... and no one even knows his name...
Very close to a Mauser MK151/15 Mauser
Descended from it. The West wasn't the only folks bringing home interesting items and people from Germany
An exchange of weapon's fire may be what's wrong with Hubble. :p
hubble's just old and worn out!!
This sounds cool
Welcome to the party Rihkter. - Arnold Schwarzenegger
I remember seeing pictures of a Soviet chemical laser based pistol intended for space use. Not sure if it was ever fired or not though.
I looked it up. It was like a gun that exploded flash bang grenades inside the barrel. I think it could only blind people and break cameras. It was never used in combat.
This guy's "posh" voice emits a kind of air that I can not tolerate.
It looks like they finished it with the same paneling my grandparents did their living room in 1973
Two reasons for the multi barrel guns #1 faster rates of fire #2 heat dissipation. #1 is useless without #2, In space the soviet gun would quickly over heat.
I know about this because it featured prominently in Cmdr. Hadfield's book, The Apollo Murders!
The Soviet union didn't collapse. It decided to suddenly dispand completely peacefully.
Very good commrade👍
Didn’t Simon already make a video on this?
With that thumbnail, I almost thought April 1st came early
Do you have an episode on Polyus? If not, do make one by all means!
"None was ever again armed". Except for _Polyus,_ though that didn't make it to orbit.
I want one!
Oh yes, I want one bad.
It can go right next to my trebuchet as a second line of home defense.
Didn’t you already make a video on this?
-3:34 "repellents" ? Maybe im not familiar
Thank - you . ( 2022 / Aug / 29 )
2:10 any particular reason why you said Atlantic instead of Pacific?
Both capitals (Moscow and Washington) are closer to the Atlantic, although both countries almost border each other at the Bering Straight.
What did they do to that poor Apache in the thumbnail?!
3:28 is that KSP?
What we think is the first you mean. We don't even know what the x37 is doing in space
10:28 who did they send it away to?
might wanna tell youtube's adsense to calm down a bit, im 8 mins in and have had 6 ads
Space based kinetic impactors. Project Thor. Rods of God. ‘Fire and fury the likes of which have never been seen before.” DJT
"Rikhter " sounds like "Richter" ... maybe it was inspired by the Soviet version of "Operation Paperclip"
"The soviet X" - Oh, this'll be good...
Cheaper, better, to just build a huge plexi dome covering the country…
😂😂
That made a lame TV show.
And preferably airtight...
But…. Why is the thumbnail an Apache hull with a machine gun for rotors and two jet engines slapped to the side?
There is no such question as "if there are are nuclear weapons in orbit" but "how many nuclear weapoins are pointed in the city I am living in" :)
4 in total.
Probably 15 since I live outside of DC.
Suggestion: How homo sapiens became the dominant species on earth.
Yuri was the second space man in space. the first one was covered up because of issues.
actually he could be the fifth up and the first to make it back alive from some sources!!
BS, Proof man!
bs
@@colbeausabre8842 proof for something that happened in soviet russia in the late 50's? you on shrooms or acid? if it was recorded and that's a big if those records have been burnt long long a go!!!trust me from 1930 to 1995 russia and what happened there is one big black hole!!!
@@SophTheLaunchTechnician that story is going to be around until those italian recordings are proven fake and that's if they are!! let's face it moscow's word back then wasn't exactly unquestionable and calling it bullshit won't help!!
Did the bullets burn up in the atmosphere or did they make contact with earth?
Sounds like someone has recently read Col. Chris Hadfield's The Apollo Murders.
"Rikhter R-23 Space Cannon", Rocinante (The Expanse), is that you? 😀
Tupelov? 😸 I guess you mean Tupolev 😆
Talking space weapons, how about the Icon missile firing satellite that used a SkyLab derived guidance system according to a famous Clint Eastwood sponsored documentary :-)
A black powder percussion cap muzzle loader will work in space, saltpetre is the oxidizer
Wasn't this the gun from the the Tu-22?
Yes
? how did they stabilize the satellite in space for firing? ... that thing would be flying and shooting all over space... especially back then when this was all brand new...
Calling it "Star Wars" is really uninspired when they could have went with "Ronald Raygun"
Hello simon
1:25 - Chapter 1 - Background
4:25 - Chapter 2 - The cannon
8:05 - Chapter 3 - Test firing
10:40 - Chapter 4 - End
And not knowing may be a good thing.
They should've brought out the Star Wars version 4 5 6 and then 1 2 3
Noodleman is an awesome name! 🍜
I think it's 'Tupolev', not 'Tupelov'.
we need satellite weapons for use against possible asteroids and meteors.
Cut your beard Santa!!
Tupelov?
When do we get the Megaprojects on Polyus?!
I refuse to ruin anything by explaining this reference, but it's related to the video. 😏
It's "Tupolev" not "Tupelov"
I will always be perplexed by the tendency of english speakers to switch letters around in foreign words. I just saw a video about redbull where the guy kept saying "guar" insteadof "gaur".
@@Ass_of_Amalek lmao im German and Always read it as tupolov
@@Ass_of_Amalek I mostly only read the First and Last Letters of a Word Automatic
@@KennyNGA well, with words you don't know, you need to read the whole word. >_>
@@Ass_of_Amalek I am pretty sure there's typo in the script and in the video. I'm fairly certain simon has said "tupolev" before, not "tupelov".