Zenith Star

US SDI Experiment project
in internet wrong labeled ALPHA Laser
because Zenith Star use the Alpha Laser technology, who gets its energy from a chemical reaction.

the laser beam is obtains by mixing hydrogen and fluoride to form hydrogen fluoride molecules.
this is vented in to space as laser cooling

weighed 39.4 metric tons,
to be launched at one time by a Barbarian launch vehicle
or in two elements aboard a Titan 4 around 1995

Test include the Laser shooting on test targets, test of sensors and targeting systems.

if the test had be a success a advance version had be deployed after year 2000
 
Zenith Star: A Structural Control Challenge
L. A. Morine
Martin Marietta Aerospace Group
Denver, Colorado
3rd Annual NASA/DOD CSI Conference
San Diego, California
January 29 - February 2, 1989

http://hdl.handle.net/2060/19900011748
 

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A diagram of Zenith Star based on numerous sources. This is a first cut of a diagram that may or may not appear in a book idea I've been pondering on the various vehicles and weapons of the Star Wars/SDI/BMD programs. If it comes out, it'll be a good long while. But the diagram as it currently stands is available in high rez (and as a DXF) over HERE... at least for another week or two.
 

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Might make an interesting field trip. The mirror has been in their possession for some time, perhaps photos could be arranged.


https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=25c15ad336bb8715014a89c3d444ffa9&_cview=0
 
I'd be very interested in an APR-style look at SDI concepts. I *do* strongly prefer the Magcloud print version, if that counts any.
 
That was the only good thing that came out of his outfit...For some reason people called him a Libertarian---he might have been called an Old Spacer who wanted tax dollars going to infrastructure---he was the last of the FDR men---though with his own oddball Moonie type ideas and such.

Scott's other drawing:

The Mock-up

Operational model here

I like this better:

Shoot cube-sats out when not shooting flechettes down at hypersonic munitions.

All space-spending should be of a dual-nature---serving both civilian and military concerns. The rail-gun above is better at hitting hypersonics---but at cube-sat launch.

Good for the pellet stream concept here too:

A Novel Propulsion System Would Hurl Hypervelocity Pellets at a Spacecraft to Speed it up - Cosmoquest Forum

A new proposal for a pellet-beam spacecraft could enable interstellar missions and a Solar Gravitational Lens in a matter of decades. The post A Novel Propulsion System Would Hurl Hypervelocity Pellets at a Spacecraft to Speed it up...
forum.cosmoquest.org

This NAIC candidate:
www.nasa.gov

Bend-Forming of Large Electrostatically Actuated Space Structures - NASA

Current large reflectors used in space-based sensing and comms applications are packaged for launch, then deployed once on orbit. Size and surface precision
www.nasa.gov www.nasa.gov

Would give new life to space-based lasers---but also for space-based radars, astronomy--solar powersats---and more.

Of course, Ares V could have launched an even bigger one:


Wish-list missions for the Ares V range from a 150-meter-wide (492 ft) radio telescope dish to detect whispers from deep space to a 5-meter cube of super-pure water encased in light detectors to assay cosmic rays by their light flashes as they crash through the water. An optical telescope with a primary mirror up to 8 m (26 ft.) in diameter could search star populations in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies for the "fossil record" of their evolution. It could also hunt for "Earthshine spectra," faint signs of life in the light reflected by exoplanets.

SLS can pick up the slack since Elon seems more interested in adding to his rocket garden--while we KNOW the next SLS cores will fly.
 
Last edited:
publiusr said:
1. Would give new life to space-based lasers---but also for space-based radars, astronomy--solar powersats---and more.

2. Of course, Ares V could have launched an even bigger one:

3. SLS can pick up the slack since Elon seems more interested in adding to his rocket garden--while we KNOW the next SLS cores will fly.
Click to expand...
1. Not true. Just because a big rocket exists doesn't mean it could be used.
2. And what is the point of that?
3. Not true.
a. There is no slack to pickup.
b. Artemis 2 is too far in the future to "know" that is will fly.
c. You don't know what Musk is interested in or SpaceX plans. How many WDRs did SLS do and fail?
 
Point 1.
SLS is why you even have Clipper—so that’s debunked.
c. Irrelevant SLS flew SuperHeavy full stack hasn’t.

Just because you hate on MSFC and SLS doesn’t make you right either.
 
publiusr said:
Point 1.
SLS is why you even have Clipper—so that’s debunked.
c. Irrelevant SLS flew SuperHeavy full stack hasn’t.

Just because you hate on MSFC and SLS doesn’t make you right either.
Click to expand...
Wrong.
1. Clipper was just busy work for SLS. It is now rightly not flying on SLS because it was an idiotic idea to put it on SLS in the first place. It actually made the spacecraft more expensive. SLS will only be used to launch Orion. There is no sense to use it for non Orion missions.
c. Meaningless. SLS took more than 10 years to fly and it will be at least another 3 before it flies again. There is enough time for Superheavy to get in multiple flights, including some doing real missions instead of test flights before SLS flies again. It will fly from KSC before SLS does again.

The fact that I am right has nothing to with my feelings about MSFC and SLS.
Your rhetoric has become tiresome. The world isn't how you see it. Nobody is out to get anybody. MSFC and SLS problems are all self induced. SLS employs almost 30,000 people. ULA has 2700 and SpaceX 9000 look how much more we get out of them.
 
One of the other pictures shows protective petals around the end, were they just for launch, or intended to protect from debris?

Also, why is it in two pieces? Too heavy for single LV at the time?
 
Forest Green said:
One of the other pictures shows protective petals around the end, were they just for launch, or intended to protect from debris?

Also, why is it in two pieces? Too heavy for single LV at the time?
Click to expand...

The petals were for protection of fragil Laser Mirror (launch and in orbit)

yes they consider to launch in two pieces on Titan IV, do lack of Heavy launcher.
the proposed USAF Babarian or NASA Shuttle-C or ALS or NLS, but Capitol Hill not care...
 

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