Missiles (question for a GURPS game but not necessarily only for GURPS) have operational power for an hour (three turns). In space combat the three turns will be consecutive from launch and if after three turns they haven't hit, or been destroyed, they will be discarded (or self detonated) as the spaceships travel further away from the now destroyed or spent missiles.
For planetary defense, where the locale won't change, can the operational power of a missile be split rather than simply used consecutively?
The scenario is to launch each missile into an effective low planetary orbit which will use up their first turn (effectively 20 minutes of operational time for power and fuel). Each missile will then continue in its orbit for some duration (typically weeks/months if placed in an effective low planetary orbit). Multiple missiles are intended to be launched to be in orbit in 'close' proximity (over hundreds of miles).
This question is about the missiles which are in orbit after only using up one third of their power and fuel. Can the missiles be powered down (for hours or even days) to be placed in a 'standby mode' until when they need to be reactivated?
This is to use the remaining power (remaining two turns for a total of 40 minutes) and fuel when it would be most useful. eg directed at the incoming pirate vessel which is only coming close to the planet and only in range of the missiles at a later time.
An enhanced communication suite is to be used to control multiple missiles via laser, rather than needing to rely only on a single controlling laser from a missile turret. This question would have been a moot point if a missile bay was in place, but what would have been a very useful missile bay doesn't happen to have been installed on the planet. While one missile doesn't tend to be effective as is likely to get shot down, multiple missiles placed in orbit as needed may be more of a deterrent to give yet another reason that it's spaceships rather than planets which tend to be harrassed by pirates.
For planetary defense, where the locale won't change, can the operational power of a missile be split rather than simply used consecutively?
The scenario is to launch each missile into an effective low planetary orbit which will use up their first turn (effectively 20 minutes of operational time for power and fuel). Each missile will then continue in its orbit for some duration (typically weeks/months if placed in an effective low planetary orbit). Multiple missiles are intended to be launched to be in orbit in 'close' proximity (over hundreds of miles).
This question is about the missiles which are in orbit after only using up one third of their power and fuel. Can the missiles be powered down (for hours or even days) to be placed in a 'standby mode' until when they need to be reactivated?
This is to use the remaining power (remaining two turns for a total of 40 minutes) and fuel when it would be most useful. eg directed at the incoming pirate vessel which is only coming close to the planet and only in range of the missiles at a later time.
An enhanced communication suite is to be used to control multiple missiles via laser, rather than needing to rely only on a single controlling laser from a missile turret. This question would have been a moot point if a missile bay was in place, but what would have been a very useful missile bay doesn't happen to have been installed on the planet. While one missile doesn't tend to be effective as is likely to get shot down, multiple missiles placed in orbit as needed may be more of a deterrent to give yet another reason that it's spaceships rather than planets which tend to be harrassed by pirates.