Super-sized parabolic mirror in space: Building the Nazi Sun Gun

The ODESSA network, a highly secretive organisation of former SS members, decides to hold the former Allied nations to ransom; with a giant parabolic mirror in space that can focus sunlight into an incredibly intense beam, capable of destroying entire cities.

(Artist's depiction of the Sun Gun taken off of damninteresting.com)

Now over the past 70 years, ODESSA has managed to get their hands in every pie: From major armament companies to agencies that are paid by various Third World governments to launch satellites for them (kinda like SpaceX...but not SpaceX). So funds, equipment and a large workforce aren't a problem here.

But just what will it take to build this Sun Gun and maintain it in space without detection?

The original Sun Gun, which was planned by the Germans during WW2 for a similar p**urpose (namely: Total obliteration of enemy cities) was supposed to have an area of about 9 sq.miles and the reflective coating was to made using metallic sodium.

So, essentially what I want to know is,

How would they go about building the Sun Gun, and what problems might arise in doing so?

But to make sure an answer wouldn't miss out on some 'issues' that I find crucial to the plot, I've broken up the above question into 3 sub-questions which should (hopefully) give users a better idea as to what I'm gunning for here.

Q1- Is it practical to send up the mirror, piece by piece over numerous "satellite launches". Would all the required materials be capable of being transported to space without arousing suspicion from countries like the U.S and Russia?

Q2- How could the mirror have been assembled in space? Would a human crew in space actually be required to patch it together, or would robots suffice?

Q3- Where would the mirror be placed in space, so that it can be built without observation, but isn't too far off (periodic maintenance by a human crew is required...kinda essential for the story, as it gives the protagonist a chance to slip in with the regular crew and sabotage the Sun Gun)?

posted about 8 years ago

paracetamol‭

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