Background Laser-powered “Lightcraft” systems that deliver nano-satellites to LEO have been studied for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The study was built on the extensive Lightcraft laser propulsion technology already developed by theoretical and experimental work by the AFRL’s Propulsion Directorate at Edwards AFB, CA. Here we review the history and engineering-physics of the laser Lightcraft system and its propulsive performance. We will also review the effectiveness and cost of a Lightcraft vehicle powered by a high-energy laser beam. One result of this study is the significant influence of laser wavelength on the power lost during laser beam propagation…
Author: John Greenewald
Background The Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) promotes the U.S. economy and public welfare by providing technical leadership for the Nation’s measurement and standards infrastructure. ITL develops tests, test methods, reference data, proof of concept implementations, and technical analyses to advance the development and productive use of information technology. ITL’s responsibilities include the development of management, administrative, technical, and physical standards and guidelines for the cost-effective security and privacy of other than national security-related information in federal systems. The Special Publication 800-series reports on ITL’s research, guidelines, and outreach efforts in systems…
Background According to the document: “The subject of unidentified flying objects is a popular phenomenon of the period from 1947, evoking widespread speculation, and producing a literature of great variety and scope. This body of literature and documentation is source material for readers seeking better understanding to this question, which has involved the U.S. Air Force as well as other official groups. This is believed to be the most comprehensive bibliography published to date on the subject, and includes the extensive UFO collection of the Library of Congress, as well as related material useful in understanding the nature of the…
Background Since the founding of America, there have been four presidential assassinations: Abraham Lincoln, James Abram Garfield (1881), William McKinley (1897-1901), and John F. Kennedy (1961-63). But in addition to these assassins, there have been other attempts that thankfully, were not successful. This section archives those individuals who were both successful, and not so successful, in assassinating the President of the United States. Declassified Presidential Assassin FBI Files Booth, John Wilkes – [ File #1 | File #2 | File #3 | File #4 ] – These records contain correspondence dated 1922-23 of William J. Burns, former Director of the Bureau of Investigation, concerning a…
Background The following document was obtained from the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) in October of 2014 under FOIA Case 2015-34. According to the document: All presently known propulsion systems apply a localized force to a rigid body. In contrast, the forces resisting motion (weight and inertia) are acting upon each constituent particle of the body—thereby limiting the acceleration to which it may be subjected. This limit depends upon the strength of the molecular bonds within the materials which compose the body, and these bonds will fail when a differential force applied across them is too large. Such a differential force can…