Blasters...

After doing some research, I think that the "blasters" of StarWars aren't that far off. I think it was the U.S. army that developed a laser cannon that would be similar to the anti-tank rifles of WWII. Except it can fire for more than an hour straight. And during one minute, the is .17 of a second it doesn't fire.

Also, look on futurehorizons.net. The have laser pistols for sale. At $1200, they are a little expensive, considering they're fairly weak and have to align after each burst.

The U.S. army also is testing a "Zeus" anti-air laser that has shot down several missles (accoring to Pop. Mechanics) and could theoretically be mounted in an aircraft.

Actual laser rifles like the E-11 don't seem far off, do they?

 

That's interesting...

 

[face_shocked] Maybe they will have lightsabers soon, seriously. I would buy one.

 

The futurehorizons.net site actually has plasma sabres that look just like light sabres, except the gases that light up are encased in glass. Still pretty nifty, though.

Also, I saw a plane mounted laser in Pop. Mechanics. It was an X-Wing crossed with a 747.

 

The futurehorizons.net site actually has plasma sabres that look just like light sabres, except the gases that light up are encased in glass. Still pretty nifty, though.

I have a friend who has an Obi-Wan version of that. It even makes some psudo realistic sounds when you swing it, they are cool.

 

This is why the future is always fascinating to me. I always look foward to the day when something in Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon Five, X-Files, etc. comes true or is on the verge of becoming real.

The science-fiction of today is the science of the future.

Perhaps one day, I will be able to own a "blaster" before I die.

 

Of course, you all should know that there actually aren't any lasers in the Star Wars movies at all. Lasers travel at the speed of light; the brightly colored beams in the movies go much, much slower than that.

 

That is correct. I forget what kind of energy is contained within a blaster and what kind of energy is extracted from Tibana gas.

 

It's plasma. The gas could be used if contained in a magnetic shield and released, it would produce a blaster-like effect. Plasma missles or "torpedos" could do the same.

 

It's plasma. The gas could be used if contained in a magnetic shield and released, it would produce a blaster-like effect. Plasma missles or "torpedos" could do the same.