NASA Flies First Laser-powered Aircraft

unassimilatible writes "NASA has successfully tested a small-scale aircraft that flies solely by means of propulsive power delivered by an invisible, ground-based laser. How far away can in-flight IP/LASER broadband be?"

Laser

[Colbens]

How far off can space death rays be is the real question

Zap?

[Anonymous Coward]

I thought they were talking about that 747 with the laser cannon on it... Too bad.

Friggin' sharks?

[AtariAmarok]

Is this ship piloted by friggin' sharks with friggin' lasers on their heads?

Re:Friggin' sharks?

[Walterk]

Sorry, but sharks are a protected species now. It was powered by ill tempered mutated sea bass with friggin' lasers on their heads.

Don't cross the beams!

[Anonymous Coward]

Anyone who watched Gostbusters knows what happens when you cross the beams!

Very far off, I hope.

[YouHaveSnail]

How far away can in-flight IP/LASER broadband be?

Let's hope it's very, very far off. A laser beam pointing to/from a commercial aircraft is essentially a giant pointer, constantly updated, announcing the precise position of the plane. It should not be difficult at all to build a guidance system that follows the laser and delivers a payload to the plane just as a line climber [intothewind.com] follows a kite string to a kite. Said payload is not likely to be an emergency delivery of peanuts and soda.

Re:Don't cross the beams!

[Esion Modnar]

Dr. Egon Spengler: There's something very important I forgot to tell you.
Dr. Peter Venkman: What?
Dr. Egon Spengler: Don't cross the streams.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Why?
Dr. Egon Spengler: It would be bad.
Dr. Peter Venkman: I'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. What do you mean "bad"?
Dr. Egon Spengler: Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
Dr. Raymond Stantz: Total protonic reversal.
Dr. Peter Venkman: That's bad. Okay. Alright, important safety tip, thanks Egon.

Cool!

[Garion911]

I can see it now:

"Homeless celebrate as pre-cooked pigeons fall from sky near airport"

Guided Missiles

[rf0]

Well least missles won't need their own guidance now . They can just follow the laser.

Rus

The EPA will not stand for this!

[Anonymous Coward]

Just think about all of the birds that get in the way.

Can you say projectile vomiting?

[Anonymous Coward]

...after you hack the navigation laser and upload the program from the Laser Zeppelin show from the local planetarium. Think when those Spirograph patterns get displayed. No amount of free peanuts will make up for that.

Re:China

[Dutchmaan]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

If they just explored space they'd be the NSA... OH HEY! I think I've stumpled onto something!

I'll be right back.. I hear a knock at the door.

Poor journalism/contradictory information.

[BLAG-blast]

From the begining:

Ever since the dawn of powered flight, it has been necessary for all aircraft to carry onboard fuel - whether in the form of batteries, fuel, solar cells, or even a human "engine" - in order to stay aloft.

But a team of researchers from NASA......is trying to change that

But how does it work Bob:

The laser tracks the aircraft in flight, directing its energy beam at specially designed photovoltaic cells carried onboard to power the plane's propeller.

Now how do 'solar cells' count as fuel when 'photovoltaic cells' don't?