From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@yahoo.com)
Date: Mon Mar 24 2003 - 06:03:40 MST
--- spike66 <spike66@attbi.com> wrote:
> Technotranscendence wrote:
> > On Sunday, March 23, 2003 8:33 PM spike66 spike66@attbi.com wrote:
> >
> >>...Altho you see a lot of
> >>humvees on the road these days, we found that in
> >>general military equipment is not highly adaptable
> >>for civilian use.
> >
> >...what about GPS? I know, it's only one example...
> >
> > Dan
>
> Certainly there are shining exceptions like GPS, and
> I suppose we could also argue that the internet of
> which we are so fond was initially conceived as a
> means of communications in the event of a nuclear
> war, in which case it is kinda like an adaption of
> mil-tech. Aircraft technology has always been pushed
> forward by military needs, along with vertical take-off
> and landing. Eventually commercial forces became the
> driver, but computers were initially developed to meet
> the needs of the war fighters. The interstate highway
> system was built to move war machines from coast to
> coast.
I have to differ from the claim that 'not much military hardware has
civilian applications'. I can think of no infantry rifle ammunition
which has not found a civilian application once it has been released to
the public, and furthermore, virtually ANYTHING that the infantryman
uses (outside of things like hand grenades) has applications in
camping, hunting, and other outdoors activities. The infantryman is
sorta the ultimate outdoorsman: parachuting, rock climbing, scuba
diving, camouflaging, tracking, orienteering, survival, etc. Todays
outdoorsman on a budget usually finds he can save lots of money and
gain some useful stuff by buying at the military surplus store instead
of EMS, REI, LL Beans, or other yuppie name brands.
Even grenades and mortar rounds have found utility in clearing
avalanches along mountain highways and at ski areas.
Many major medical advances first appeared in military hospitals, and
funded by military research dollars. Virtually all we know about head
and body trauma comes from military research. Penicillin became mass
produced for military use in WWII. The appearance of superglue for
sealing skin wounds first appeared in military triage units. Military
dollars currently pay for much research into artificial blood and
cryoprotectants (if you can cool or freeze a wounded soldier at an over
capacity military hospital, you can handle the flow of wounded cases
over a longer period with less staff) and this will find use not only
in cryonic suspension, but in disaster and emergency management.
Then lets go to the other extreme: Titan ICBMs were adapted to
launching satellites and probes, from the Gemini capsules to the
Voyager probes to current day launches of the Cassini and Galileo
probes, communications and weather satellites, etc. Even the actual
nuclear missiles that sat for many years in silos have been recycled to
use in space launches.
Ihave no doubt that other newer ICBMs can be similarly recycled. For
example, the Conestoga rocket's first two stages are Minuteman engines.
Jet engines were developed specifically for military use, yet found
civilian applications. Stealth materials have found use in the auto
markets for drivers who want to avoid traffic tickets. Submarines are
used in many civilian applications from scientific research to tourism
to luxury yachting (http://www.ussubmarines.com). Sonar has found use
in underwater archaeology (Titanic) and treasure hunting (The Atocha),
as well as recovery of recently wrecked vessels and planes (recall the
hunt for TWA800, as well as JFK Jr's plane). Underwater listening moved
from military use to scientific in listening for whalesongs and
tracking marine mammals and other sea life. Armored units are
frequently used in riot control and bank transfers. Cryptography.
Business jets. Semiconductors. The list goes on to future applications:
high energy lasers, developed for Strategic Defense, can find use
propelling interplanetary and interstellar spacecraft.
=====
Mike Lorrey
"Live Free or Die, Death is not the Worst of Evils."
- Gen. John Stark
"Pacifists are Objectively Pro-Fascist." - George Orwell
"Treason doth never Prosper. What is the Reason?
For if it Prosper, none Dare call it Treason..." - Ovid
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