this thing is big enough to alter the average reflective index of a whole state if it swings around its mirrors
the focus spot in theorie could be set to any range, just as u go more far the precision of each mirror angle will be the limiting factor amongst atmospheric losses distortions.
Even if the actuators had enough precision, which they almost certainly do not, there’s no way the mirrors are flat enough to keep the light collimated that far out. The angular spread would make the intensity much lower at orbital altitudes.
True, however even if you get nearly 400MW of energy focused roughly, that’s going to be well outside the operating parameters of satellites. The only thing that would save them would be the fact that they’re moving at orbital speed and would only be subject to that beam for milliseconds.
tell my why this thing should not be able to melt satelites that cross over during the day
It should work. Trust me. I have a theoretical degree in physics.
Welcome aboard!
I’ve got the whole NCR sucking my teats, and it feels so good.
I trust this person with all of your lives
You have a degree in theoretical physics?
did they stutter?
nope, just referencing a meme
The suns angular diameter is about 0.01 radian, so at a distance of 100km, the suns reflection will spread out to a disc about 1km across.
392MW over a disc that size is 500w/m2, which is weaker than direct sunlight.
They can aim each mirror individually though.
And each one makes a 1km2 spot.
It’s not the aiming, it’s that the sun is not a point source.
Uh… losses from transmitting through the atmosphere a second time?
Damn. I wonder what its operational range would be.
this thing is big enough to alter the average reflective index of a whole state if it swings around its mirrors
the focus spot in theorie could be set to any range, just as u go more far the precision of each mirror angle will be the limiting factor amongst atmospheric losses distortions.
Even if the actuators had enough precision, which they almost certainly do not, there’s no way the mirrors are flat enough to keep the light collimated that far out. The angular spread would make the intensity much lower at orbital altitudes.
True, however even if you get nearly 400MW of energy focused roughly, that’s going to be well outside the operating parameters of satellites. The only thing that would save them would be the fact that they’re moving at orbital speed and would only be subject to that beam for milliseconds.
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You can shoot a strong laser and use a super sensitive receiver to a very specific frequency
That argument doesn’t hold up
You can shoot a strong laser and use a super sensitive receiver to a very specific frequency
That argument doesn’t hold up
The inverse square law.
in my defense:
That is 300 ft, not 600-1,200 miles.
The Sun puts more energy on a spy satellite than the array could do.
The extra distance from the satellite to the earth and back is negligible. It’s also countered by having thousands of sources vs a single one.
It’s why you can be blinded by looking at the sun a mirror still, it’s not like the mirror becomes the new source and the calculation starts again….
Some laws were made to be broken 😎
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Because it’s always nighttime in space.