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Extrarius · 05-13-2018, 05:53 PM

What if space-related technology was retarded such that rockets capable of making it to any kind of orbit are not available or are much more resource-intensive to construct. Instead of "spy satellites", might you get an approximate replacement with high-altitude rigid air ships? Obviously some kinds of satellites would be replaced with unmanned blimps (ex to bounce TV signals county-wide), but leaving sensitive military surveillance systems unattended in less-than-friendly airspaces is probably not a good idea. In this scenario, the benefit over planes is low fuel consumption, but you still need a reason planes don't easily shoot them down with lead, air-to-air missiles, or simply flying drones into them.

05-13-2018, 05:53 PM	#51
Extrarius Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Psionic Ward	Re: Why Dirigibles? What if space-related technology was retarded such that rockets capable of making it to any kind of orbit are not available or are much more resource-intensive to construct. Instead of "spy satellites", might you get an approximate replacement with high-altitude rigid air ships? Obviously some kinds of satellites would be replaced with unmanned blimps (ex to bounce TV signals county-wide), but leaving sensitive military surveillance systems unattended in less-than-friendly airspaces is probably not a good idea. In this scenario, the benefit over planes is low fuel consumption, but you still need a reason planes don't easily shoot them down with lead, air-to-air missiles, or simply flying drones into them.