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Originally posted by SLAYER69
reply to post by jazz10
Thank you.
I'm presently writing a related thread, I hinted at the topic above.
NANO-Tech.
Stay tuned.
Originally posted by SLAYER69
reply to post by hp1229
I'd love to hear about his first hand experience.
Maybe you could send him an invite to join us tin-foliers here at ATS?
Originally posted by jessejamesxx
I was watching 'The Wonders of the Solar System', or something to that effect, and the host goes up to the "Blue Line" in an aircraft. He goes up 80,000ft in this jet, like it was no big deal. They mention that the maximum altitude of the jet is "classified".. which leads me to think that it can probably go A LOT higher than we suspect. Possibly no limit? Out to space and back?
Does anyone know which craft I'm talking about? Any further details?
Originally posted by SLAYER69
It's a bird! It's a spy! It's both
Backed by the Pentagon's research arm, Monrovia firm AeroVironment has developed the Nano Hummingbird, an experimental miniature drone that could one day do reconnaissance by landing on a window ledge.
Called the Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology (MAST) Collaborative Technology Alliance Program, the 10-year initiative is focused on creating the next generation of micro robotic systems. Discovering how nature can teach us how animals and insects sense their surroundings, manoeuvre around, over-and through obstacles and perform complex behaviours helps the team to understand how to convert these behaviours into 1s and 0s.
The personal robots will be fully autonomous and equipped with a range of senors, including visual, audio, thermal, magnetic and chemical, as well as location and orientation capability to improve situational awareness for frontline troops by sending back vital, lifesaving information.
Prototypes have already been created, including a fly-like robot that weighs less than an ounce and has a wing span of 1.18 inches - lightweight carbon joints allow the robot to mimic a real fly, with wings that beat 110 times a second.
Originally posted by OrionHunterX
Excellent thread! But what's the point in having all these fancy gizmos costing billions of dollars of tax payers money when the US of A has failed to even catch Osama bin Laden by his graying beard for the past 10 years? He's the threat, not the Russians or the ETs!
Originally posted by clintdelicious
I think some people are getting a bit too excited with America and forgetting that the real big player in space militerisation is really Russia as well. They are far more sneaky and aggressive in deployment of these kinds of things imo
Originally posted by Bob Down Under
I believe Zorgon will have a few good inputs on this when he finds it.
Originally posted by K8sarvesbarkooh
vision 2020.
www.fas.org...
Megawatt class power levels were first achieved by the Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL) originally sponsored by the Navy, later by DARPA, and then by BMDO. Because the design was intended for sea level operation, the MIRACL laser does not achieve the optimum efficiency necessary for space-based operation. DARPA launched the Alpha laser program, with the goal of developing a megawatt level SBL that was scaleable to more powerful weapon levels and optimized for space operation. In this design, stacked cylindrical rings of nozzles are used for reactant mixing. The gain generation assembly achieves higher power by simply stacking more rings. In 1991, the Alpha laser demonstrated megawatt class power levels similar to MIRACL, but in a low pressure, space operation environment. Alpha demonstrates that multi-megawatt, space-compatible lasers can be built and operated.
To demonstrate the ability to fabricate the large mirror required by an SBL, the Large Advanced Mirror Program (LAMP) built a lightweight, segmented 4 m diameter mirror on which testing was completed in 1989. Tests verified that the surface optical figure and quality desired were achieved, and that the mirror was controlled to the required tolerances by adaptive optics adjustments. This mirror consists of a 17 mm thick facesheet bonded to fine figure actuators that are mounted on a graphite epoxy supported reaction structure. To this day, this is the largest mirror completed for use in space. This LAMP segmented design is applicable to 10 m class mirrors, and the Large Optical Segment (LOS) program has since produced a mirror segment sized for an 11 m mirror. The large dimension of this LOS mirror segment approximates the diameter of the LAMP mirror
The ability to control a beam was demonstrated at low power under the Large Optics Demonstration Experiment (LODE) in 1987. The current high power beam control technology is now being integrated with the Alpha laser and the LAMP mirror in a high power ground demonstration of the entire high energy laser weapon element. This is known as the Alpha-LAMP Integration (ALI) program.
Experts regard Okno center in Tajikistan as Russia's most valuable military object on the territory of the republic. The military-strategic role it is playing is already colossal and it is bound to increase yet. In other words, the Okno's military-political importance is going to be substantial in the relations between Moscow and Dushanbe. Located in the Sanglok mountains 2,200 meters above the sea level, the complex in question is one of the most efficient means of the airspace control system of the Russian Space Forces. The skies above it are clear almost all year round.
The US Department of Defense has three similar objects. They use lasers and therefore require more by way of electric power. In any case, Okno is superior. Strategically speaking, the complex is a huge step forward in Russia's ability to forecast aggressions against it and its allies. An emphasis on advanced hi-tech weapons and military hardware is made in modern warfare. Space is playing an important role in it, particularly now that the United States is deploying a new ballistic missile defense system with some elements of it in orbit around Earth. It means that the role of Okno in military security of Russia and its allies will only grow.