Air Force F-15E fighter jets will launch the new weapon, which would find its target either by a laser or satellite guidance system.

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It carries a host of satellite and laser-guided bombs and is able to remain over targets for long periods of time to assist in close-air support for troops on the ground.

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The US space agency satellite uses a laser altimeter to measure the elevation of the ice sheets.

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Laser is the foundation of countless technologies we use each day: the Internet, digital media, computer hard drives, satellite broadcasting, laser eye surgery, and laser cancer treatment.

WHITEHOUSE: Golden Goose Award: Scientific Research Investments Paying Off | The White House

The suggestions that the United States has no need for a kinetic-kill ASAT capability for "the next decade or two" and that there are alternatives that already exist for negating or disrupting enemy space activities, such as destroying ground stations or jamming links, would also appear to rule out the use of the Airborne Laser program for anti-satellite purposes.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: United States Senate

It would not start with the proposed test of the MIRACL laser against the third Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI-3) satellite. (For that matter, these assets were used in an inconclusive low-power laser test last April.) And it assuredly would not stop if the Clinton Administration chooses not to conduct the high-power experiment now being proposed by the Army.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Although we're always keen on new military tech (hey, it gives us something to write about), we're gonna have to side with the Doubting Thomases on this one, because the impending "ROBO-ONE in the Space" satellite is simply too important to risk even a single stray laser strike.

ENGADGET: Air Force pushing for ground-based, satellite-killing lasers