China Wants To Deploy Lasers In Space To Destroy Space Junk. Could This Also Be Used As A Weapon?

Popular Mechanics: Could a Chinese Space Junk Laser Double as a Weapon?

A space laser could be useful for dealing with more than just junk.

There are two reactions to a paper regarding space junk that was published this week by researchers at China’s Air Force Engineering University. One, it seems good that the spacefaring nations of the world are considering ways to clean up an increasingly cluttered low Earth orbit. And the Chinese are putting forward a new plan, one that proposes to use a laser to zap the debris. Then there’s the other reaction—maybe it's not just about space junk.

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WNU Editor: Just a side note, but the biggest creation of space debris came from an anti-satellite missile test by China in 2007 .... 2007 Chinese anti-satellite missile test (Wikipedia).

More News On China Wanting To Deploy Lasers In Space To Destroy Space Junk

Is China Really Planning to Destroy Space Junk With Lasers? -- Gizmodo
China has a plan to clean up space junk with lasers -- Phys.org
Trash-Blasting Lasers Could Help Clean Up Space Junk, China Says -- Live Science
China Plans to Destroy Space Junk With Giant Lasers -- Newsweek
China plans to destroy space debris using giant orbital lasers -- IBTimes

Update: The Chinese Are On The Verge Of Dominating A New Domain: Near Space (Task and Purpose)

The U.S. Navy's Amphibious Warship USS Portland Will Be Testing A Prototype Laser In 2018

U. S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John Philip Wagner, Jr

Popular Mechanics: America’s Newest Amphibious Ship Is Getting a Laser Weapon

The Portland is getting a laser just in time to show off at RIMPAC 2018

The U.S.'s latest amphibious ship is getting a laser weapon just in time to show off at the 2018 Rim of the Pacific wargames. The USS Portland, which will function as the flagship for the multinational military exercises, is set to receive the latest version of the Navy’s Laser Weapon System. The new weapon will likely make an impression on visiting sailors—especially those from China—that also participate in the exercises.

The USS Portland, a San Antonio-class landing platform, dock ship is set to enter service with the U.S. Navy in April. US Naval Institute News reports the Navy is installing the next generation version of its Laser Weapon System (LaWS) on the ship. The Portland will receive LaWS just as it is scheduled to deploy as the flagship of the 2018 Rim of the Pacific

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More News On The U.S. Navy's Amphibious Warship USS Portland Testing A Prototype Laser In 2018

Amphibious warship USS Portland set to get radical laser weapon in historic Navy test -- Daily Mail
US Navy’s next amphibious warship to get laser weapon -- Defense News
LPD Portland Will Host ONR Laser Weapon Demonstrator, Serve as RIMPAC 2018 Flagship -- USNI News
The Navy's USS Portland will test a prototype laser -- We Are the Mighty
US Navy bolting LASER WEAPON onto lead warship for futuristic warfare -- Daily Star
‘We’re very excited’: US Navy to test warship laser weapon -- RT