Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "MIRACL" in English language version.
The Mid-Infrared Chemical Laser was slightly damaged twice during tests against the Air Force's Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI-3) satellite in October. The purpose of the tests was to evaluate the effect of the laser on the satellite's infrared sensors. [...] Program experts believe that when the power was ramped up, a shock wave in the gases within the deuterium fluoride laser resulted, and caused it to move, which then caused a small amount of melting inside the device.
Later tests also were conducted at White Sands Missile Range aimed at finding out how effective a laser would be. For these tests, the nation's most powerful laser, the Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser, was used.
In any event, the outcome of the test was remarkable: although the MIRACL laser itself basically failed, a lower-powered companion laser, intended merely to align the system and track the satellite, proved sufficiently powerful to blind the target satellite temporarily without destroying or damaging the onboard sensors. Few had anticipated that what was essentially a piece of commercially available apparatus could have such militarily significant effects.
The Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL) is the first megawatt-class, continuous wave, chemical laser built in the free world. It is a deuterium fluoride (DF) chemical laser with energy spectra distributed among about ten lasing lines between 3.6 and 4.0 microns wavelength. Since it first lased in 1980, it has accumulated well over 3500 seconds of lasing time.
The announcement of Friday's laser test caused some political rock-throwing in and outside of Washington because of claims by some that the test is the first step in the militarization of space and a potential violation of treaties. [...] The Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI-3) satellite was "illuminated" by a high-powered, ground-based laser housed at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico shortly after dark on Friday evening.
The experiment is being conducted by the U.S. Army's Mid-Infra-Red Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL) located at White Sands Missile Range, NM. The satellite that will be used for the test, the U.S. Air Force Miniature Sensor Technology Integration program's third satellite (MSTI-3), has exceeded its useful lifetime. The experiment will have two parts: (1) very brief laser illuminations of less than one second, and (2) an illumination of less than 10 seconds.
The MSTI 3 satellite served as a target for the US Armys Mid-Infra-Red Advance Chemical Laser (MIRACL) at White Sands, NM, to demonstrate the capability of a laser to interfere with the optical train, and analyze the data to determine the effect on the optics. The test consisted of a 1 sec burst to locate the satellite, followed by a 10 sec burst. This was the first test of a LASER against an orbiting satellite.
In any event, the outcome of the test was remarkable: although the MIRACL laser itself basically failed, a lower-powered companion laser, intended merely to align the system and track the satellite, proved sufficiently powerful to blind the target satellite temporarily without destroying or damaging the onboard sensors. Few had anticipated that what was essentially a piece of commercially available apparatus could have such militarily significant effects.
In any event, the outcome of the test was remarkable: although the MIRACL laser itself basically failed, a lower-powered companion laser, intended merely to align the system and track the satellite, proved sufficiently powerful to blind the target satellite temporarily without destroying or damaging the onboard sensors. Few had anticipated that what was essentially a piece of commercially available apparatus could have such militarily significant effects.
Both the MIRACL laser, which was damaged during the test, and a lower-power (30-watt) laser primarily intended for system alignment and satellite tracking were used. Results of the test are classified, but the DOD did report that the system tracked and illuminated the satellite, and the lower-power laser either temporarily dazzled or damaged the satellite's sensor.
The Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL) is the first megawatt-class, continuous wave, chemical laser built in the free world. It is a deuterium fluoride (DF) chemical laser with energy spectra distributed among about ten lasing lines between 3.6 and 4.0 microns wavelength. Since it first lased in 1980, it has accumulated well over 3500 seconds of lasing time.
Later tests also were conducted at White Sands Missile Range aimed at finding out how effective a laser would be. For these tests, the nation's most powerful laser, the Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser, was used.
The experiment is being conducted by the U.S. Army's Mid-Infra-Red Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL) located at White Sands Missile Range, NM. The satellite that will be used for the test, the U.S. Air Force Miniature Sensor Technology Integration program's third satellite (MSTI-3), has exceeded its useful lifetime. The experiment will have two parts: (1) very brief laser illuminations of less than one second, and (2) an illumination of less than 10 seconds.
The announcement of Friday's laser test caused some political rock-throwing in and outside of Washington because of claims by some that the test is the first step in the militarization of space and a potential violation of treaties. [...] The Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI-3) satellite was "illuminated" by a high-powered, ground-based laser housed at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico shortly after dark on Friday evening.
The MSTI 3 satellite served as a target for the US Armys Mid-Infra-Red Advance Chemical Laser (MIRACL) at White Sands, NM, to demonstrate the capability of a laser to interfere with the optical train, and analyze the data to determine the effect on the optics. The test consisted of a 1 sec burst to locate the satellite, followed by a 10 sec burst. This was the first test of a LASER against an orbiting satellite.
The Mid-Infrared Chemical Laser was slightly damaged twice during tests against the Air Force's Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI-3) satellite in October. The purpose of the tests was to evaluate the effect of the laser on the satellite's infrared sensors. [...] Program experts believe that when the power was ramped up, a shock wave in the gases within the deuterium fluoride laser resulted, and caused it to move, which then caused a small amount of melting inside the device.
Both the MIRACL laser, which was damaged during the test, and a lower-power (30-watt) laser primarily intended for system alignment and satellite tracking were used. Results of the test are classified, but the DOD did report that the system tracked and illuminated the satellite, and the lower-power laser either temporarily dazzled or damaged the satellite's sensor.
The Mid-Infrared Chemical Laser was slightly damaged twice during tests against the Air Force's Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI-3) satellite in October. The purpose of the tests was to evaluate the effect of the laser on the satellite's infrared sensors. [...] Program experts believe that when the power was ramped up, a shock wave in the gases within the deuterium fluoride laser resulted, and caused it to move, which then caused a small amount of melting inside the device.
In any event, the outcome of the test was remarkable: although the MIRACL laser itself basically failed, a lower-powered companion laser, intended merely to align the system and track the satellite, proved sufficiently powerful to blind the target satellite temporarily without destroying or damaging the onboard sensors. Few had anticipated that what was essentially a piece of commercially available apparatus could have such militarily significant effects.
