Re: starship-design: Want to bet that Black Horse is in here somewhere?

[KellySt@aol.com]

In a message dated 6/9/02 5:51:30 PM, lparker@cacaphony.net writes:

>Bingo!
>
>Atmospheric ionization was one of the largest obstacles airborne lasers
>had
>to overcome. It caused a thermal bloom which then spread the beam and
>significantly reduced energy on target. This has been mostly overcome,
>but
>at the speeds fighter aircraft typically move, they will outrun the
>solution.
>
>So why are they looking at laser weapons on a fighter airframe if they
>aren't going to be significantly better than missiles or guns? Because
>Black
>Horse is a fighter sized airframe and is designed to reach orbit...where
>atmospheric interference is no longer a problem and the laser WILL
>outperform missiles and guns.
>
>It makes one heck of a quick launch antisatellite weapon and would probably
>even be able to generate some significant antiballistic missile usefulness.
>
>Lee


I doubt this is for blackhorse.  See they also know how to cancel out 
blooming from earth to oprbit, and even back when the f-15's were designed th
ey we're designed to be laser compatable.  The Navy has a significant 
research effort in it to replace their phalanx anti-antiship missle systems.

Bessides why make a black Horse compatable laser, when you never funded Black 
Horse?

Kelly