Changing the focal length, or the effective focal length is rather simple.
For example, build a space based heliostat. Then your just need to keep the reflectors flat. When the mirrors are large shiets of aluminum coated mylar, the problem will be simpler than the earth based equivalents
The nice refutation forgets a few things, like there are currently no publicly known weapon systems capable of disabling a device above LEO. Any nation that could get to GEO could maybe weaponize a payload, but if I owned such a death ray why would I let anyone launch a rocket that I hadn't inspected? Or conversely, the trip to GEO takes a while, a long while that the weapon would have to retaliate. Launch 3 or 4 of them and keep the entire planet under guard at any given time.
Bombs cost money, sunlight is free. After launch the devices would be about untouchable and would never run out of ammo. The same can't be said for the US Military.
A big beam, needs a big mirror.
Be it microwave, infrared or visible light it's a huge gun in orbit, untouchable by IEDs and lesser nations. It doesn't even need to work that well, just 10 x amplification from nominal and any spot on earth is unlivable. Or operate as a great psychological weapon when a given region is bathed in light 24 hours a day.
It is a very bad idea, like SDI was a bad idea, like the further militarization of space is a bad idea.
Car accidents, Biking accidents. Children grow up. Another good one is serious allergic reactions. People forget to pay Guido and they find out how there face feels with massive bruising and swelling.
Any system would have to take into account people who have no faces, or have there faces changed radically, and that may be a highway to exploiting the system especially if it is centralized.
Slashdot Mirror
Changing the focal length, or the effective focal length is rather simple.
For example, build a space based heliostat. Then your just need to keep the reflectors flat. When the mirrors are large shiets of aluminum coated mylar, the problem will be simpler than the earth based equivalents
The nice refutation forgets a few things, like there are currently no publicly known weapon systems capable of disabling a device above LEO. Any nation that could get to GEO could maybe weaponize a payload, but if I owned such a death ray why would I let anyone launch a rocket that I hadn't inspected? Or conversely, the trip to GEO takes a while, a long while that the weapon would have to retaliate. Launch 3 or 4 of them and keep the entire planet under guard at any given time.
Bombs cost money, sunlight is free. After launch the devices would be about untouchable and would never run out of ammo. The same can't be said for the US Military.
A big beam, needs a big mirror. Be it microwave, infrared or visible light it's a huge gun in orbit, untouchable by IEDs and lesser nations. It doesn't even need to work that well, just 10 x amplification from nominal and any spot on earth is unlivable. Or operate as a great psychological weapon when a given region is bathed in light 24 hours a day. It is a very bad idea, like SDI was a bad idea, like the further militarization of space is a bad idea.
Bring him and the wookie to me.
It happens all the time.
Car accidents, Biking accidents. Children grow up. Another good one is serious allergic reactions. People forget to pay Guido and they find out how there face feels with massive bruising and swelling.
Any system would have to take into account people who have no faces, or have there faces changed radically, and that may be a highway to exploiting the system especially if it is centralized.