A Study into the Use of Laser Retroreflectors on a Small Satellite - M.Unwin

[Jim Choate]

And these are reasonably low power lasers...

http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/SSC/IJSSE/issue1/unwin/unwin.html

The simple fact is that the thermodynamic impact of a laser beam that is
several feet across and emitting more photons than the surface of the sun
will not be easy to reflect unless immense cooling is taken. Cost/weight
factors alone argue it in the negative.

Remember, that laser is hotter than the surface of the sun area for area.
You'll need cooling systems comparible to the aircraft carrying the laser
(consider the cooling of the main or final steering mirror alone in aircraft
weight). Even the finest mirrors will not stand up to that uncooled, and
even then not for long. Consider the expansive impact on the cryogenic fuel
components. How much are they over-rated?



-- 

 --
    ____________________________________________________________________

                Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night:
                God said, "Let Tesla be", and all was light.

                                          B.A. Behrend

       The Armadillo Group       ,::////;::-.          James Choate
       Austin, Tx               /:'///// ``::>/|/      ravage at ssz.com
       www.ssz.com            .',  ||||    `/( e\      512-451-7087
                           -====~~mm-'`-```-mm --'-
    --------------------------------------------------------------------