Re: New TBMD Laser

Read, I think, Cardinal of the Kremlin, which contains mention of this
and
other problems in firing a laser thru atmosphere.

> From: Los <los@cris.com>
> 1. The targetting laser paints the target.
> 2. The returning beam is measured for distortion. Assessing the
> atmorshphere between the laser and the missle.
> 3. The "rubber mirrors or lenses" distort the primary beam as it's
fired
> by the atmosphere, in almost an opposite fashion. The beam can be over
a
> meter in diameter as it leaves the AC.
> 4. The very atmosphere the laser is passing through refocuses the
> distorted beam so that when it reached the target, it's back into its
> killing configuration (roughly the shape of a basketball.)
> 
> In FT usage, would this specify that a space-based Beam system is
> potentially ineffective against atmospheric targets unless it contains
a
> similar distortion-compensating mechanism?
> 
> Los