Why “projectile” is being discussed
The most recent Hacker News stories and comments contributing to this topic's mentions.
Ah, the memories. The joyous days spent imagining the future... As a 70's child, I grew up with the UFO Interceptor[1] toy, a treasured possession, and fondly remember blasting…
by MomsAVoxell · Sep 19, 2026
"Putting" weapons in space, like in orbit (otherwise they won't stay in space for long) is not like putting weapons in international waters close in to the target. Any weapon th…
by restalis · Sep 16, 2026
Whipple Shields are a very important part of protecting things like the ISS, but are optimized more for chance high velocity impacts with tiny bits of debris than an adversary's…
by notahacker · Sep 15, 2026
> But steering an incoming projectile is way harder. It's usually much easier to steer an outgoing projectile. :P
by toast0 · Sep 15, 2026
While armor is indeed much harder in space, it is not impossible: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipple_shield Whipple shields use spaced plates to disperse…
by gorgoiler · Sep 15, 2026
What matters is the relative velocity of the projectile towards the target. True. If you really want to mess space up forever you need to launch a rocket full of sand, slingshot…
by onion2k · Sep 15, 2026
Interest
Proportion of Hacker News items mentioning "projectile" over time.
Mentions
Total number of Hacker News items mentioning "projectile" over time.
A projectile is an object that is propelled by the application of an external force and then moves freely under the influence of gravity and air resistance. Although any objects in motion through space are projectiles, they are commonly found in warfare and sports. Read more on Wikipedia