Meteoroid Defense System (MDS)
The Meteoroid Defense System (MDS) is a BFG that destroys meteoroids that could damage Earthship Ark. It has two large railguns located in Hull Sector Η5, one that can be aimed above the Ark and one below. The MDS also includes computerized threat detection and control systems.
The MDS can deal with meteoroids/asteroids up to 500 Mt in mass. Small objects can be “disintegrated” into tiny pieces that will not harm the Ark. Larger objects will either be broken up, or deflected by a carefully placed shot. The MDS may have to fire several times to protect the Ark from a large object.
For safety reasons, the MDS can only be employed under the control of the Main Computer.
The MDS has tracked 72 worrisome objects since the Ark left Earth. It has never fired on any.
At some point, the MDS may begin tracking Tau Ceti as a collision target, but that has not happened yet.
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