space mirrors

Is laser technology at the point where a surface based laser could fire at the
mirror and be deflected to hit a target half the world away?

In a message dated 98-10-31 13:19:23 EST, you write:

<< Is laser technology at the point where a surface based laser could fire at
the mirror and be deflected to hit a target half the world away?

smakdab >> I think that it would be if it could be aimed corectly. That would
requere knowing the exsact location of all three items (laser, mirror, target)
My $.02 Bye Stephen

> << Is laser technology at the point where a surface based laser could

You'd want more than one mirror so your beam spends as little distance as
possible in atmosphere--sort of a three-cushion bank shot.
Second question is, what size target? Afghanistan? Yes. One particular
terrorist camp? A bit more difficult. One specific terrorist?... Third
question, are you going to deliver enough power on target to do any good? Not
yet. First application of this would be to knock out enemy satellites, I
think.

laurie spake thusly upon matters weighty:

Maybe. Depends what DoD has been doing recently. If focusing has got to that
level, I imagine it is possible. The question is how much atmospheric
attenuation and dispersion and distortion do you get. This means aming is hard
and damage is 'dispersed' for every meter of atmosphere you fire through.

> Is laser technology at the point where a surface based laser could
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