Airborne Laser Successfully Tracks, Hits Missile 287
fructose writes "The Airborne Laser managed to acquire, track, and illuminate a test missile a few days ago. According to the press release, the Boeing plane 'used its infrared sensors to find a target missile launched from San Nicolas Island, Calif ... issued engagement and target location instructions to the beam control/fire control system ... fired its two solid-state illuminator lasers to track the target and ... fired a surrogate high-energy laser at the target, simulating a missile intercept.' The sensors on board the missile confirmed the 'hit.' Michael Rinn, ABL's program director, said, 'Pointing and focusing a laser beam on a target that is rocketing skyward at thousands of miles per hour is no easy task, but the Airborne Laser is uniquely able to do the job.' The next steps will be to test the high-power laser at full strength in flight and do a complete system test later this year. Its success or failure will determine whether the project gets canceled. Looks like the Real Genius fans out there are finally living the dream."
Real Genius Fans? (Score:2, Funny)
Looks like the Real Genius fans out there are finally living the dream.
Eh, it's cool and all, but I'd rather see a house explode with popcorn.
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Not living the dream - yet. (Score:3, Funny)
Sigh. Not until I can hammer a six inch spike through a board with my penis.
Re:Just what we need (Score:3, Funny)
With shields , offcourse :-) .