Artist's impression of the operation of a neutral particle beam (NPB) platform, a space-based defensive weapon under evaluation as part of America's S

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Artist's impression of the operation of a neutral particle beam (NPB) platform, a space-based defensive weapon under evaluation as part of America's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) - the so- called \Star Wars\" program. The artwork shows (foreground) the deployment of an NPB platform by a space shuttle: in background an operational NPB platform is busy intercepting hostile ballistic missiles. A neutral particle beam has the advantage of not being deflected by the Earth's magnetic field, and so (in theory) its destructive power might be more accurately directed at a distant target."

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Size: 3193px × 2169px
Photo credit: © U.S. DEPT. OF ENERGY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: artists, artwork, beam, combat, defense, illustration, impression, initiative, neutral, npb, particle, program, programme, sdi, shuttle, space, star, strategic, war, wars