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Lasers could ensure satellites fly in perfect formation
newscientistspace.com — How can astronomers ensure that their space telescopes fly in ultra-precise formations around our planet? By combining the push of laser light with the pull of tethers, believes one physicist.
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- longofest, on 10/12/2007, -11/+3Hope they are calculating for any refractions that the atmosphere may cause. Sounds like they are going to be using somewhat high-powered lasers if they are powerful enough to create a push against the mirrors, and I'd hate to see the formation get too close to the atmosphere, the laser refract, miss the mirror and hit the spaceship, and boom! :-0
- philmunt, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Seriously, you think your smarter than them. Of course they're calculating for any refractions that the atmosphere may cause. Its like your trying to prove that you know that the earths atmosphere refracts light.
- mhof, on 10/12/2007, -7/+5that would be "you're" not "your"
- eccentric4, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Would you people read the article and actually use your minds? The lasers are not earth-based, they are to be placed on the satellite... what good would earth-based lasers do for close formation of satellites? The lasers check the distance !!between!! satellites themselves to maintain perfect formation. And yes, they do account for lasers refracting in the atmosphere... how do you think they ping the reflector on the moon to determine that its moving away from the earth?
- ywong137, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I am in fact getting the distinct impression that most commenters are just commenting on the blurbs and not reading the articles.
- longofest, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1hope you're not responding to me, since I never once mention earth-based lasers in my post. And yes I read the article.
People get too mean spirited sometimes...
- skytomorrownow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1this is an interesting development but considering that many of the NASA science missions that would use these technologies have been scrapped in favor of a mars program kind of makes it only worth a shoulder shrug -- not that i don't want to see the fruits of this labor.
- sivam, on 10/12/2007, -3/+0 just do it ..
- Alexius, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The idea is that lasers are beamed between pairs of spacecraft within a formation. Mirrors on each satellite reflect the laser beams back and forth, providing an energy-efficient thrust.
- johnsmith45678, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0I'm surprised no dorks have made their lame "frickin lasers" comments.
- scotticus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0you just did, dork.
- sivam, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0technologies have been scrapped in favor
- sivam, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I was just joking
- andersonmanly, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0So we have lasers controlling satellites now, but still no sharks with friggin' lasers on their heads?
- andersonmanly, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0< --- Dork
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