Mythopoeika
I am a meat popsicle
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2001
- Messages
- 51,907
- Location
- Inside a starship, watching puny humans from afar
It was on telly a couple of years ago.
All they've done is build a small model that is propelled upwards by a high-powered laser. It all looks like cool science, but how they will scale it up to something useful I don't know.
I think it may be a dead-end project that won't get anywhere.
All they've done is build a small model that is propelled upwards by a high-powered laser. It all looks like cool science, but how they will scale it up to something useful I don't know.
I think it may be a dead-end project that won't get anywhere.
These things are basically beercans with a bog massive laser kicking them in the ass. I doubt that they're as heavy as hubcaps.
They start them spinning with compressed air for stabilty, then light off that fine legacy of SDI underneath it. IIRC they were flying about 30' up, and they were talking about going for 100'.
It looked like they had issues with the "device" sliding away from the beam. Apparently they have no active controls in the thing. Basically it's a gigantic science toy, with no practical use. Maybe it will give someone ideas, though.
They start them spinning with compressed air for stabilty, then light off that fine legacy of SDI underneath it. IIRC they were flying about 30' up, and they were talking about going for 100'.
It looked like they had issues with the "device" sliding away from the beam. Apparently they have no active controls in the thing. Basically it's a gigantic science toy, with no practical use. Maybe it will give someone ideas, though.
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2002
- Messages
- 19,406