rickr@is.rice.edu (Rick Russell) wrote in message news:<bcl1ju$bov$1@joe.rice.edu>...

In article <5d28ff28.0306161013.70ff47f5@posting.google.com>,
Brad Guth <bradguth@yahoo.com> wrote:

(hell, I'd even have taken that opportunity)

I don't doubt it. However, I suspect that Boeing & TRW engineers are
more cognizant of the dangers of pointing a laser weapon at a
spacecraft full of their own colleagues.

What is your evidence that this unannounced test firing occurred?

Rick R.

No specific evidence, just the gut feeling that I would have done the
same test firing, especially if the budget was so tight and there was
no word of any ongoing compromise.

BTW; no one onboard COLUMBIA was looking out any window at Earth
during their reentry, thus even a laser beam of being dangerous to
human sight was not a consideration, though I don't believe the
spectrum of IR associated with that cannon is illuminating much of
anything (still not good to be looking at), though I understand there
is now a visible target tracking beam that is utilized.

As I've stated; especially if that cannon beam were of 5 milliradian
and of limited to 1% of output, where a few seconds (say 15 to 30
seconds) of targeting should have indicated a right/left wing thermal
differential of perhaps 10 degrees C.

Of course, if we're talking about a single milliradian beam and of
even the 1% power level, as that could have created a 100 degree C
differential if not greater. At a 10% power level, especially if
sustained for a solid minute should have been devastating, even if all
those tiles were 100%.

Understand; my initial interest in the laser cannon had nothing
whatsoever to do with bringing down any incoming craft, but with the
entirely humanitarian interplanetary communications potential.

Regards, Brad Guth / IEIS  1-253-8576061  http://guthvenus.tripod.com
alternate URL: http://www.geocities.com/bradguth