Pondering

[den]

I wonder how shaped charges would go in space.

Comments

[hafoc.livejournal.com]

Just fine, I'd wager. The pressures and temperatures of that insane jet of flame are so great that plus or minus standard atmospheric pressure shouldn't be a big enough difference to notice.

[dewhitton.livejournal.com]

The charge would travel about 6km per second, and deliver a pretty big kinetic whack on an enemy ship. It would be harder to dodge than a missile.

[marmoe.livejournal.com]

As tropism points out below, shaped charges as weapon systems are designed to detonate on contact or in the close vicinity of the target. You still need to get the projectile there with conventional means, i.e. at "low" speeds. Otherwise your projectile will disperse and / or cool. On the other hand, a 6 km per second bullet may still do the job you want it to do.