There are military tests with laser weapons and there are tests with lasers who point mirrors on the moon for scientific reasons. My idea is: why not combine that? There are two main problems, the first is, that you need a weapon which can strike global in a short period of time. A single satellit can´t do that. The second problem is, that you need a massive energy source. It is impossible to get such a main generator into space with the current technology. That means the main relais has to be placed stationary on earth. now imagine that main relais on earth. Several dozen satellites are in a geostationary orbit around earth. That means their orbital speed is the same as earths rotation speed. So they stand always over the same spot. They are placed in the two stable geostationary orbits at 35.786 km height / 105°W and 75°O. So if the main relais fires on earth, it targets the satellite over it. That satellite refocus the laser and reflects it to the other satellites. Special satellites guide the laser beam from one orbital into another and the target satellite finally send the beam down on earth to its target. It can basicly hit any point on earth and its power could be regulated to just kill some Taliban in a car in Afghanistan or to melt its way down into north koreas nuclear facilities. It could destroy stationary and mobile targets. Its much more safe than a nuclear arsenal and would safe civilian lifes.
my idea for a super weapon
- Thread starter DariusAmurdarja
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Sounds good on paper but if lasers aren't being used as a weapon on earth the technology to use the effectively as a weapon doesn't exist. This isnt simply taking known technology and finding a new way yo use it, the entire endeavor is going to have to be invented.
They are already used as weapons. They shot down rockets and so on. The main problem at the moment is, that they are mostly used as mobile system. That creates "energy shortage". That weakens their power and efficiency.
But at the same time, they had to invent some 400-odd things in order to send man to the moon....
@Darius: I'm sure they're already working on it....But since you bring it up, how do you keep the laser's strength up? It is only light, isn't it? And after so much time and space, light eventually loses its intensity and its effectiveness. So how do you keep the beam strong and deadly through all the relaying. Another angle to consider.
@Darius: I'm sure they're already working on it....But since you bring it up, how do you keep the laser's strength up? It is only light, isn't it? And after so much time and space, light eventually loses its intensity and its effectiveness. So how do you keep the beam strong and deadly through all the relaying. Another angle to consider.
simple answer: overpower it. a stationary earth based central fire relay has no energy shortage. Your problem would only occure when the central unit is mobile, like in a plane or ship or satellite. There is basicly no limit to its power. Eta Carinae (a hyperblue giant star) fires lasers which could melt earth away in a second.
The problem with long distance light transmission in a laser form is that light diffuses after leaving an aperture. when a laser is sent to the moon, it is passed through an aperture the size of a telescope and by the time it hits the moon the cross section of the laser is quite large, then when it bounces off of the moon and comes back, it is a faint signal. Geosynchronosly orbiting satelites are way closer to the earth than the moon, so that helps, but being able to transmit that kind of power is hard to do. Solar cells/batteries probably would have to be built into a satelite the size of a large space station. A nuclear reactor on a satelite might work, but talk about expensive.
And the nature of a laser is concentrated light. Hitting a target and cooking a car from space sounds nice, but you could only do that one target at a time. For the same price you could equip a small army with mobile versions and get WAY more bang for your buck.
And the nature of a laser is concentrated light. Hitting a target and cooking a car from space sounds nice, but you could only do that one target at a time. For the same price you could equip a small army with mobile versions and get WAY more bang for your buck.
Is this really a topic of conversation?
All I want is fricken sharks with fricken laser beams attached to their foreheads!
All I want is fricken sharks with fricken laser beams attached to their foreheads!
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