First laser test conducted using recycled fuel
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Article Summary
October 5, 2006 The world’s first firing of a laser using recycled fuel was conducted by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy Directorate and Boeing recently, and the success of the tests suggest a major breakthrough for lasers in general and for affordable and low risk military weapons applications. During the test, a chemical laser was supplied with its two main fuels (basic hydrogen peroxide and chlorine) which were regenerated from waste products produced during prior laser operations. Testers fired the laser at high power, in the order of several kilowatts, proving its performance. This breakthrough substantially improves warfighting logistics as it removes the need to dispose of used fuel, and as the fuel recycling process can be continued indefinitely, it provides a practical way to fuel laser weapons without costly and complex fuel resupply to the battlefield or to an aircraft.
