5 ms·
Space is too large, distances are too great. There is no suitable laser right now. Besides that, if you are garanteed to neutralize your enemy's arsenal, you fo
by motoboi 10y ago
Space is too large, distances are too great. There is no suitable laser right now. Besides that, if you are garanteed to neutralize your enemy's arsenal, you force him to attack first while he can avoid his own total destruction.
- lisivka 10y agoSolar-pumped laser[1] is powerful enough, but it has problems with overheating. Overheating can be solved by fueling a satellite with a coolant. Rockets are cheaper now, so it is possible. Ukrainian scientists has patents on that laser, and Ukraine granted $300K to build a test system in Uzbekistan in 2004, but then project was shut down. [1] https://www.greenoptimistic.com/uzbekistan-solar-furnace-laser-20080808/ https://www.greenoptimistic.com/uzbekistan-solar-furnace-las...
- JumpCrisscross 10y ago> There is no suitable laser right now This is a fine argument against this concept. But the article frames the scientists as saying it's not just unfeasible now but generally impossible. That's what I'm struggling with.