Comments on: Boeing’s 747 Laser Canon http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/boeings-747-laser-canon/5351 for environmentalists who don't take themselves too seriously Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:41:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Paul M. http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/boeings-747-laser-canon/5351/comment-page-1#comment-176293 Paul M. Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:22:02 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/?p=5351#comment-176293 If this airborne laser weapon were to destroy only a single missile fired by a belligerent, then potentially many thousands of lives, perhaps even millions could be saved. Surely that is a net environmental benefit that outweighs the relatively small cost of the pollution/debris generated by the destruction of the missile? The intended victims would likely agree. The continued efforts of the totalitarian rulers of North Korea towards acquiring nuclear weapons and ICBM capability makes this airborne laser system all the more necessary as a responsible means of self-defense. There are times when the issue of environmental impact has to take a back seat to larger considerations in achieving a proper ethical and moral balance. This is one of them. If this airborne laser weapon were to destroy only a single missile fired by a belligerent, then potentially many thousands of lives, perhaps even millions could be saved. Surely that is a net environmental benefit that outweighs the relatively small cost of the pollution/debris generated by the destruction of the missile? The intended victims would likely agree.

The continued efforts of the totalitarian rulers of North Korea towards acquiring nuclear weapons and ICBM capability makes this airborne laser system all the more necessary as a responsible means of self-defense.

There are times when the issue of environmental impact has to take a back seat to larger considerations in achieving a proper ethical and moral balance. This is one of them.

]]> By: A Plane That Shoots Lasers at Missiles. Or Other Stuff. | Jim On Light http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/boeings-747-laser-canon/5351/comment-page-1#comment-159726 A Plane That Shoots Lasers at Missiles. Or Other Stuff. | Jim On Light Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:33:10 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/?p=5351#comment-159726 [...] out the series of articles leading up to this post - there are a LOT.  Originally it came from Environmental Graffiti, and they got it from a ton of other sources.  Here’s the official Boeing page, and a page [...] [...] out the series of articles leading up to this post – there are a LOT.  Originally it came from Environmental Graffiti, and they got it from a ton of other sources.  Here’s the official Boeing page, and a page [...]

]]> By: Uncle B http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/boeings-747-laser-canon/5351/comment-page-1#comment-155203 Uncle B Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:46:08 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/?p=5351#comment-155203 But what pressing world problem does it solve? As usual, a ghost enemy of your own potential in size has been invented, for a really expensive mass of technology designed to kill it? and no real world problems are solved! Please, turn your skills to supporting humanity in its struggle to peacefully co-habit the planet. We need, in America, for survival of the (GRD) great republican depression, GMO'ed bug proof and fast growing veggies, super insulation for low prices, Solar cells to charge better storage batteries to keep us out of the dark, Improved Solar Power Plants, Improved Wind generation, Cheaper medical services for all Americans, cheaper better microwave cooking methods so we can use solar and wind power to prepare our food, water cleaning, recycling systems, battery cars, aquaculture systems for protein in our Post GRD diet, a means of transporting and storing solar, wind, wave, and water current electricity - and the list goes on! The American people are BROKE !!! and you assholes give us bills for hypothetical armaments for imaginary enemies! WTF!! But what pressing world problem does it solve? As usual, a ghost enemy of your own potential in size has been invented, for a really expensive mass of technology designed to kill it? and no real world problems are solved! Please, turn your skills to supporting humanity in its struggle to peacefully co-habit the planet. We need, in America, for survival of the (GRD) great republican depression, GMO’ed bug proof and fast growing veggies, super insulation for low prices, Solar cells to charge better storage batteries to keep us out of the dark, Improved Solar Power Plants, Improved Wind generation, Cheaper medical services for all Americans, cheaper better microwave cooking methods so we can use solar and wind power to prepare our food, water cleaning, recycling systems, battery cars, aquaculture systems for protein in our Post GRD diet, a means of transporting and storing solar, wind, wave, and water current electricity – and the list goes on! The American people are BROKE !!! and you assholes give us bills for hypothetical armaments for imaginary enemies! WTF!!

]]> By: Casey http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/boeings-747-laser-canon/5351/comment-page-1#comment-155105 Casey Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:41:22 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/?p=5351#comment-155105 "The YAL-1 Airborne Laser (ABL) has been some twelve years in the making." might be misleading. I worked on a visiting laser-plane, from Wright-Patterson AFB if I remember correctly, slightly smaller than a 747 yet bigger than a C-130, completely outfitted with laser components of all kinds. The various chemicals and unbelievable piping job inside the plane astounded me at the time - prior to my 1979 exit from the Air Force. While I can't say that the plane I worked on used the YAL-1 nomenclature it likely utilized components and engineering gleamed from more than 3 decades of laser work, not twelve years. My recollection was that this plane shot the laser out the back, on the tarmac, blasting holes in stationary plexiglass cubes for focusing purposes, prior to its performances in the air. Casey “The YAL-1 Airborne Laser (ABL) has been some twelve years in the making.” might be misleading. I worked on a visiting laser-plane, from Wright-Patterson AFB if I remember correctly, slightly smaller than a 747 yet bigger than a C-130, completely outfitted with laser components of all kinds. The various chemicals and unbelievable piping job inside the plane astounded me at the time – prior to my 1979 exit from the Air Force. While I can’t say that the plane I worked on used the YAL-1 nomenclature it likely utilized components and engineering gleamed from more than 3 decades of laser work, not twelve years. My recollection was that this plane shot the laser out the back, on the tarmac, blasting holes in stationary plexiglass cubes for focusing purposes, prior to its performances in the air.
Casey

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