I Russia Claims Laser Weapon Can Destroy Drones: Is it Possible?

[peetm]

The Telegraph is running this story with little detail.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-n...-laser-weapon-can-destroy-drones-1500km-earth

But, is such a laser possible? Wouldn't it scatter, and how much energy would be absorbed by the atmosphere?

 

[.Scott]

It would be difficult, but with a large enough aperture and suitable targeting mechanisms, you could cook a satellite in 5 seconds and render it space junk.

I don't expect to see such a machine in my lifetime.

It would create an interesting problem for Elon. The exact methods he is using to keep his constellation from being a nuisance to astronomers would tend to make his satellites more vulnerable to such a laser.

Against a laser, you would want reflective surface. But a dark surface that can take the heat would work as well. Communication satellites could be readily hardened. Optical satellites would be a different matter.

 

[russ_watters]

I was disappointed when the Airborne Laser was cancelled:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_YAL-1

It seems to fit the bill, with a range of a few hundred km. I'm not sure what the point of 1,800 km would be, as that's much higher than most satellites (but lower than geosynchronous/stationary).