re: #134 Romantic Heretic

They are.

The problem is that they are a perfect first strike device. If launched they will knock out their targets before the country they are aimed at can react, even one as technically advanced as the US.

And thanks to 1/2M*Vsquared object dropped from orbit are nearly as powerful as nukes.

With ICBMs you’ll get lots of warning. From orbit, “Oh shit!” *BOOM*

Interesting. I suspect you could utilize reduced mass coupled with aerodynamics of the dropped object to reduce the scale of the devastation on impact.