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Russia building ‘laser cannon’ death ray capable of blasting targets in space
metro.co.uk ^ | Monday 11 Jun 2018 11:04 am | Jasper Hamill

Posted on 06/12/2018 10:58:24 AM PDT by Red Badger

An image drawn by a Defense Intelligence Agency employee imagining how a Soviet laser cannon might look (Credit: Edward L. Cooper / Wikimedia)

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Russia has revealed plans to build a gigantic laser cannon capable of destroying targets in space.

It is converting a telescope into a huge ‘space gun’ which will be used to zap orbital debris which poses a threat to orbiting space ships.

The ‘cannon’ is not likely to be very powerful at this stage, meaning it would have to be focused on a piece of floating junk for some time in order to vaporise it.

But it could be a vital weapon of war in a world which depends on satellites.

Researchers at a subsidiary of Roscosmos, the Russian equivalent of Nasa, want to turn a telescope at the Altai Optical-Laser Center into a cannon which will blast space junk.

The abilility to blast satellites from space would give Russia a tactical advantage over its enemies

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‘The scientists intend to use the massive soon-to-be-built telescope at the Altay Optical-Laser Center and convert it into a laser cannon,’ it wrote, according to Russian reports

‘The device is expected to be powered by a solid-state generator, though the project team has yet to choose which model to use.’

Of course, whilst Russia claims its intentions are peaceful it’s already known to have developed weapons that can disable satellites.

Earlier this year, it revealed plans for a ‘flying laser’ which could be mounted on a plane.

Satellite play a key role in warfare and also power the global communications infrastructure, so a weapon which brings down spaceships would be a powerful tool in any future conflict – including those fought in space.

However, tackling space debris is certainly a noble cause, because there’s a lot of rubbish orbiting Earth right now and a lot of it is Russian.

If nothing is done, our world will be surrounded by a vast amount of junk travelling at high speeds which poses a huge risk to any spacecraft trying to leave the planet.

A similar idea for a rubbish-blasting laser attached to the International Space Station was proposed by Japan in 2016.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Military/Veterans; Science; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: tomclancy
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RUSSIA!.........................
1 posted on 06/12/2018 10:58:24 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger

A laser that can blast space junk can blast hanging chads. Impeach now!


2 posted on 06/12/2018 10:59:49 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Billthedrill

Probably powered by the uranium pickles sold them.


3 posted on 06/12/2018 11:02:08 AM PDT by wally_bert (This is the message phone company. I see youÂ’re using our unit, now how about paying for it?)
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To: Red Badger

IIRC, they already built something like this in Semipalatinsk in the 70’s.

CC


4 posted on 06/12/2018 11:02:27 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Do you know what really burns my ass? A flame about 3 feet high.)
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To: Billthedrill

5 posted on 06/12/2018 11:03:14 AM PDT by Red Badger (When Obama and VJ go to prison for treason, will Roseanne get her show back?...)
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To: Celtic Conservative

They blew it up...............


6 posted on 06/12/2018 11:04:44 AM PDT by Red Badger (When Obama and VJ go to prison for treason, will Roseanne get her show back?...)
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To: Red Badger
As soon as they open its aperture we will destroy it with our "lazer cannon" death ray we have secretly orbiting the planet.

Ever wonder why Rocket Man's rockets just wont fly?

7 posted on 06/12/2018 11:06:02 AM PDT by Delta 21 (Build The Wall !! Jail The Cankle !!)
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To: Red Badger; lightman

lOOKS PRETTY DAMNED BIG TO ME!


8 posted on 06/12/2018 11:08:00 AM PDT by Carriage Hill (Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.)
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To: Red Badger

I would use as an example of bad luck the low probability event of flying through this thing’s beam in the brief time it was pulsed on.

Of course, in reality air space around this contraption would be restricted... but I’m just thinking.


9 posted on 06/12/2018 11:08:09 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine ("Married with children.")
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To: Red Badger

Death Ray!


10 posted on 06/12/2018 11:09:27 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: Red Badger

Tom Clancy came up with it first!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cardinal_of_the_Kremlin


11 posted on 06/12/2018 11:10:25 AM PDT by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism.)
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To: Red Badger

Very frightening if they can use this to influence a U.S. election. Otherwise, yawn...


12 posted on 06/12/2018 11:11:09 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: Red Badger

USA builds giant mirror in space with reflection panels back to source of light

Film at 11!

13 posted on 06/12/2018 11:11:09 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! (MAGAMarchOnWashington.com)
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To: Red Badger

IBDE. (Dr. Evil)


14 posted on 06/12/2018 11:12:48 AM PDT by PhiloBedo (You gotta roll with the punches, and get with what's real.)
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To: Red Badger
If thats all the focus the RUSSIANS can achieve on a lazer beam we have no worries. Do RUSSIANS even have fluorescent lighting yet?


15 posted on 06/12/2018 11:12:53 AM PDT by Delta 21 (Build The Wall !! Jail The Cankle !!)
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To: PhiloBedo
IBDE.

You called?

16 posted on 06/12/2018 11:14:21 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Celtic Conservative

You may be thinking of the Sary Shagan test site where they were developing ABM lasers. Rumor had it that they zapped a space shuttle flight and caused some issues. Of course, all deny anything happened now.


17 posted on 06/12/2018 11:18:34 AM PDT by doorgunner69 (Give me the liberty to take care of my own security..........)
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To: Red Badger
An image drawn by a Defense Intelligence Agency employee imagining how a Soviet laser cannon might look (Credit: Edward L. Cooper / Wikimedia)

Soviet?

18 posted on 06/12/2018 11:21:36 AM PDT by HapaxLegamenon
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To: Red Badger

The laser is the easy part. The hard bit is the acquisition and targeting systems.


19 posted on 06/12/2018 11:22:13 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Get in the Spirit! The Spirit of '76!)
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To: Red Badger

They just have to breed a big shark. That is the real tech problem.


20 posted on 06/12/2018 11:22:59 AM PDT by bmwcyle (People who do not study history are destine to believe really ignorant statements.)
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