Posted on 11/22/2004 7:04:09 PM PST by anymouse
Soviet Union was developing laser space battle station Skif from beginning of 80's.
Length: 37 meters
Diameter: 4.1 meter
Weight: around 80 tons
It was supposed to be launched by Energia booster (same as for Buran shuttle)
Unarmed prototype filled with scientific equipment was created around 1985 and launched 15 May 1987. It was failed to start operations and with the fall of Soviet Union project was scrapped.
My father personally participated in this project (he also worked on Mir and International Space Station projects) and he was very dissapointed with this failure as i remember. It was big blow for Energia Corp engineers.
I suppose it was their protection for a unannounced shuttle visit or, they could move the rig to the same orbital plane and use them to kill satellites.
Irritating, but not very effective.IMO
You are correct. I'm just not hip.
Better "not hip" than "super-dorky" like some folks. I don't mean me, of course. *cough*cough*.
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