One Rocket to Rule Them All: An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Ring of Power Delivery Feasibility Study

Lómëacil Leafstrider¹ Throgrin Ironnozzle ²

¹ Professor of Aether Dynamics, University of Rivendell

² Lead Structural Integrity Analyst, Erebor Institute of Deep forge Rocketry

Abstract

To date, Mordor’s air defense is inadequate to intercept a supersonic ballistic missile. Due to the tower of Barad-Dûr’s impeccable detection range, it is impossible to slip anything into Mordor by air without being detected. The only possible method of returning the great ring of power by air would require great speed so that any defensive measures would be too slow to react. With the capable metallurgical skills of the dwarves and elven rocket fuel, it is possible to construct such a craft. Thankfully, the ring of power contains an inerrant guidance system straight to Mordor if in possession of a corruptible soul within a calibrated gimbled system. This paper evaluates the feasibility of using a multi-staged ICBM Ring Bearing Rocket (RBR) to deliver the Ring of Power directly to the heart of Mt Doom and saving Middle Earth from Sauron’s evil expansionist policies. After making an Analysis of Alternatives, accounting for the technical risk, and logistics timeline, this paper suggests that a traditional Hobbit transported ring mission is more likely to succeed and in a timelier time frame of 80-100 days compared to the 310–504-day time frame to construct the RBR. 

Keywords:  Ring of Power, Rocket Science, Elven Rocket Fuel, 3-Stage Dwarven Rocket Bodies, Mithril Lined Warhead, Ring Based Mordor Seeking Guidance System, Analysis of Alternatives, Ossë’s Breath, Elven-Dwarven Logistics Chain

1. Introduction & Background

We are now in possession of Sauron’s Ring of Power, but we dare not use it as it only answers to its master. We only have the one option to destroy Sauron’s power. The ring cannot be destroyed by any craft that we here possess. The ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom, only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from that which whence it came [1]. One does not simply walk into Mordor; it’s black gates are guarded by more than just Orcs [2]. There is evil there that does not sleep [3], and the great eye is ever watchful [4]. It is a barren wasteland riddled with fire and Ash and dust. The very air you breath is a poisonous fume [5]. Not with 10,000 men could you do this [6]. But it could be done with one well designed rocket.  

Not only would destroying the Ring of Power cut off the head of Mordor’s political structure [7], but the volcanic chain reaction would destroy millions of orcs and trolls amassing on Gondor’s borders as we speak chanting for war and constructing Gondor piercing siege equipment [8]. For a rocket to deliver the ring, into Mordor unmolested by the enemy or his trusty Nazgûl, it must clear the Ered Lithui, or Ephel Dúath mountains, re-enter the atmosphere in the Plateau of Gorgoroth, and penetrate deep into Orodruin (Mt. Doom).

2. Required Trajectory 

For this quest to succeed, we cannot miss. Due to the ring’s desire to return to its master, the guidance system of the proposed ICBM design will incorporate the ring wielded by an easily corrupted mind so that its guidance will return to its master. 

2.1 Planned Trajectory

Unfortunately, Sauron is located in the tower of Barad-dûr’s fiery eye a full 48.3 km Northeast of Mt Doom. Thus, the trajectory of the Ring of Power must be from North to South. As the launch must take place from Rivendell, the only feasibly safe point of assembly, the ICBM must circumnavigate middle earth once South-South-East to line up the shot.  

Next upon re-entry, the guidance system must begin descent in such a way that the rocket will either pierce through the eye and head directly to Mt Doom or drastically overshoot the eye. As the re-entered ICBM will be travelling at Mach 22 at a shallow angle, it is likely to pierce through the eye of Sauron before he can capture the ring. A diagram of the final descent can be seen in figure 2 [9]. 

2.2 Orbital Calculations

Using the planetary calculations Galrion Mithrim in the first age [10], we assume a Middle Earth Radius of RME=6,371km a total range orbital Rivendell to Mordor  RangeRD2MD=40,075km given the required trick shot. The ICBM will be required to make a full planetary orbit to re-enter Middle Earth. Given a ring wraith mobility time there will be 90 min to make the full orbit solving for h below where the gravitational parameter GM=3.986x1014m3/s2:

We solve for a Peak altitude of h=~539km at apogee to achieve a Low Middle Earth Orbit (LMEO) shallow re-entry angle to make it from Barad-dûr to Mt Doom. Using the equation:

We find that our required velocity is v=7,597ms= mach 22.15 for our RBR to make the perilous journey. 

3. Design

The ICBM must first travel approximately 40,075km as the fell-beast flies to circumnavigate Middle Earth, precisely land in Mt Doom through Barad-Dûr, and either bunker bust through the mountain or through the cracks of doom of Sammath Naur.

3.1 Staged Design

To achieve a successful orbit, the RBR will exit the Rivendell valley and enter orbit during the first booster stage and achieve a ~4,000km/s velocity. Next the booster will separate, and the second stage will pitch the rocket into orbit over the Western Ocean of Minhiriath. Upon re-entry, the second stage will fall away, and the final stage will line up the killer blow. The staged design can be seen in figure 3.

By using the mass ratio equation shown below, we may calculate the required mass to achieve each desired orbital velocity:

Using the finest dwarven engineering and the forges of Erebor deep within the Lonely Mountain, each stage may contain the maximum fuel to mass ratio. With hardened dwarven steel mined and forged deep in the heart of the lonely mountain, outer reinforcements allow for each stage to contain the rocket burn and funnel through an efficient nozzle at each stage [11]. As shown in the table below, we have estimated the required masses of each stage for a final RBR payload stage weight of 3,000 kg. 

	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3
∆v target	4.0 km/s	3.0 km/s	2.3 km/s
Mass Ratio	2.5	3.0	2.2
Start Mass	200,000 kg	50,000 kg	11,667 kg
Fuel Mass	120,000 kg	33,333 kg	6,981 kg
Dry Mass	30,000 kg	5,000 kg	1,686 kg
Payload to Next Stage	50,000 kg	11,667 kg	3,000 kg

3.2 Elven Rocket Fuel

Deep within the sap of Telperion (The Silver Tree), is a potent rocket fuel known as Calathanor or ‘Flame of the Blessed Realm’ in Elvish, the resulting sap may be processed into dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) fused with the light of the sacred two trees of Valinor. Using a process only known to the woodland Silvan Elves of Lothlórean, this complex hydrocarbon may be distilled into a liquid rocket fuel capable of producing the required 3.6MJ/kg once combined with a special oxidation system [12].

Using the high atmospheric turbulence of the grey mountains, the elves of Thranduils halls have perfected a method to capture cryogenically frozen Ossë’s Breath. They won’t tell us how it’s manufactured unfortunately because it’s a carefully guarded trade secret [13] which involves some very specific tree bark, a cavern distillation processs, spider web woven collection devices of seasonal moon mist, and other secretive elements that enrich the O3 Ossë’s breath with specially oxidizing silver particles once liquified. This secrecy will be shown to later cause complications in the deployment of the RBR.

Once the Calathanor’s packed into each stage of the rocket, the fuel will ignite lit and combined with specially piped Ossë’s breath through storage canisters at the top of each rocket section. Due to the volatility of the material, it must be packed into each rocket stage compartment once transported from Erebor, then assembled at Rivendell by dwarven engineers. 

3.3 Guidance Mechanism

Rocket guidance stands on the edge of a knife, stray but a little and the RBR will miss. Thankfully there is an innovative solution. Given that our payload naturally seeks Sauron’s presence. If it is given to corruptible being, it will guide it back directly to Sauron’s evil spirit in the center of Mordor as per Sauron’s design [14]. However, Sauron will be deceived for another target was selected. 

We have captured the creature Gollum who has long been corrupted by the ring. We’ll give him the ring and then attach him to three free spinning gyroscopic rings to allow the internal Gollum + Ring of Power Guidance Unit (GRPGU) to measure rocket corrections toward Sauron. The prototype may be seen in figure 4. 

Let I be the inertial frame fixed to the middle of Middle Earth, B be the body frame fixed to the RBR, G1,G2,G3 be the free rotational rings measuring roll, pitch, and yaw, and G4 be the rotational ring affixed to the GRPGU measuring Gollum’s ring obsession vector rSauron(G). By defining the generic Body measurement with:

The obsession vector may be applied using:

Which transforms Gollum’s obsession vector into the RBR body frame. Next, we measure RB→I with another gimbal and then estimate: 

Next, we estimate the Gollum based torque vector of the rocket using: 

Torque guidance may finally be applied to the RBR given the equation where Kp and Kd are tuning parameters to determine how aggressively the rocket will respond to Gollum’s obsessive desires. As the RBR approaches the eye of Barad-Dûr, the rocket will become more responsive until passing through the eye which we expect to kill Gollum, but we actually don’t know. 

Initial tests suggests that Gollum can indeed survive the G-forces associated with accelerating to Mach-22. In an early centrifuge test, we measured Gollum’s FG as he experienced enough G-forces to liquify a wild boar but throughout the test, he kept screaming “AAAAHHHHHHHHH! MY PRECIOUS!!! MY PRECIOUS!” while reaching towards rSauron(G). The measurement quaternion and GRPGU were extremely noisy, but it was unbiased and unrelenting towards Sauron [15]. 

3.4 Mithril Lined Bunker Busting Warhead

For our shot to be feasible, the RBR warhead must penetrate towards the center of Mt Doom to deliver the Ring of Power into the lava tunnel deep within. It is advisable to penetrate through the crunchy top of the volcano and allow for the compartment containing the GRPGU to make its way into the lava to the dramatic end of the ring and Gollum. Due to our lack of thermal insulation during atmospheric re-entry, Gollum may already be dead at this point. Once we line the warhead with mithril and a 10m long 0.5m diameter mithril warhead, the rod at a speed of Mach-22 should be capable of blowing through at least 20-40m of dense volcanic rock [16] making way for the GRPGU compartment to finally transport the ring deep within the mountain. We aim to source the warhead design from the nearby mines of Moria which we believe have a ready supply of Mithril for production.  

4. Feasibility Analysis 

The success of the RBR project highly depends on special materials gathered and manufactured across Middle Earth from the finest Dwarven and Elven craftsmen, craftswomen, craftselves, craftsdwarves, craftselvishwomen, and a few craftsdwarven women. For the primary rocketry stages, the oxidation agent Ossë’s breath and the Calathanor silvan light fuel must be transported in the rocketry components. This is in large part due to proprietary IP laws elves use to protect their own trade secrets [17]. This creates a lengthy supply line as the components must be crafted in Erebor, then shipped to Mirkwood where Thranduil’s Realm infuses the Calathanor, then transported to Lothlórean to be infused with Ossë’s breath before being transported back to Rivendell for final integration and testing before launch. Thankfully, the warhead can be crafted in Moria independently of the main rocket body, but we haven’t heard from Moria in quite some time, so we do not have a cost or schedule estimate for the work at this time. The full logistics chain is shown in table 2 below adding up to 310-504 days.  

Phase	Location	Time
Rocket Component Forging	Erebor	60-75 days
Component Transport	Erebor Mirkwood	14-20 days
Calathanor infusion and initial enchantment	Thranduil’s Realm	60-120 days
Component Transport	Mirkwood Lothlórean	24-34 days
Ossë’s breath infusion	Lothlórean	42-74 days
Component Transport	Lothlórean Rivendell	33-52 days
System Integration	Rivendell	42-63 days
System Checkout	Rivendell	3-5 days
System Test	Rivendell	32-61 days
Total Time		310-504 days

This project has many technical risks associated. Rocketry technology has been widespread adopted since the second age to include a scary dragon rocket variety. However multi-staged orbital rockets have not been used since the first age, and the use of Calathanor fuel has just undergone a recent technological maturation process moving from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 to 6 after a successful field demo [18]. Ossë’s breath is even lower TRL in rocketry applications as it has only been used for hangover recovery [19]. Elve’s rarely get hung over, but when they do… The guidance system is completely experimental and will need to go through an extensive TRL maturation process before we can strap it on the tip of a Mithril lined ICBM. The technology as a whole will never be testable in this timeline below TRL 7 as there is only one operational mission and one shot at guiding the ring to Mordor. I don’t know half of these risks half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of these risks half as well as we’ve tested in the lab.

5. Analysis of Alternatives

There are three traditionally recognized methods for destroying the ring: flying to Mordor using Eagles, utilizing the RBR ICBM, or advancing towards Mordor with a combined military force consisting of men, dwarves, and elves. The final untraditional option is to deliver the ring using a small party of Middle Earth’s heros and misfit hobbits who have an unusual resistance to the rings evil power. It is already known that with Barad-Dûr’s 100% probability of detection and agile Nazgul flown interceptor dragons an Eagle based aerial assault is doomed to fail [20]. Assembling the army will take time and is politically difficult. The Elves keep to their forests. The Dwarves hide greedily under their mountains. The race of men, some believe they are weak but there is hope for them. Unfortunately, they often only respond when under attack and are unlikely to proactively take a pre-emptive strike on Mordor until it is too late, and Gondor has called for aid. There is movement in the enemy, the pieces are set, and a quicker solution may be necessary to halt the armies of Mordor. The RBR ICBM method is the likeliest to succeed if the logistical and technical issues are solved. However, the timeline will likely take a year and contains significant technical risk, nearly as much risk as trusting the ring in the hands of a hobbit. A 3^rd party analysis of the hobbit-based solution has shown an 80–100-day journey to return the ring to the fiery Mt Doom via hobbit [21]. A comparative Gant Chart is shown below in figure 5. The 90-minute rocket journey around Middle Earth is hardly worth the effort if it requires over a year of technological development compared to a sneaky and good hearted halfling. 

6. Conclusion 

I wish the Ring had come in a longer timeline. I wish we had none of our technological and schedule risks to the RBR program, but so do all who live to see such expanding timelines, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the technical and non-technical solutions that are given to us. After the technical design and a full analysis of alternatives, it is suggested to trust the ring in the hands of a hobbit. 

References

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