View Full Version : Laser Atlanta/prolaser 2/NASA Atlas 1000 on Ebay
corkguykev
11-21-2007, 01:39 AM
just saw it last night. i read about it on here lately so it was probably on b4 but its back on again if it was. $500 at the moment.
lsrguru
11-21-2007, 03:18 AM
Laser Atlanta would LIKE to think this unit was used by NASA but it was submitted for evaluation and never ever made it into space.
If you bother to search NASA's image archives of shuttle missions, you will find they only ever used custom modified LTI 20-20 lasers. They were, and still are , used for docking maneuvers by the shuttle with other orbiters, space stations or satellite retrieval.
NASA rejected all other lasers in their trials and exclusively use LTI lasers on every mission involving a docking maneuver.
These lasers measures speed to hundredths of a foot per sec. and can range out to over 80,000 metres (in space). They are hard wired into the orbiters navigation system and give the commander exact approach speeds and range to docking.
Oh, and they have to shoot through a window made up of 7 sheets of laminated glass with a special UV film on the outer surface, something the folks at LA Optics could never achieve.
So I guess that laser on ebay would make a nice $500 paperweight.
the guru has spoken.
:wink:
specialchicken
11-21-2007, 05:17 AM
may not work in space..but it works here so who cares!!
dorcse
11-21-2007, 05:27 AM
may not work in space..but it works here so who cares!!
I wonder what the pps is on the Atlas?
specialchicken
11-21-2007, 05:31 AM
prob 225 like PL2
jimbonzzz
11-21-2007, 07:50 AM
prob 225 like PL2
I'm sure you meant 238 :wink: :)
corkguykev
11-21-2007, 10:54 AM
If you bother to search NASA's image archives of shuttle missions, you will find they only ever used custom modified LTI 20-20 lasers. They were, and still are , used for docking maneuvers by the shuttle with other orbiters, space stations or satellite retrieval.
yeah, sorry I didnt "bother" to do that :roll: . just thought id let ppl know this was on like....
carter840
11-21-2007, 12:19 PM
I am pretty sure that a forum member is the one holding that auction. I remember someone on this site winning that on fleabay a while back, i guess they are trying to sell it now.
lsrguru
11-21-2007, 02:25 PM
Heres a pic of an LTI laser aboard the shuttle
http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/luceneweb/fullimage.jsp?searchpage=true&keywords=laser%20&textsearch=Go&hitsperpage=5&pageno=1&photoId=STS064-33-003
specialchicken
11-21-2007, 10:03 PM
Let me fix that pic for you;
http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/lores/STS064-33-003.jpg
Here is a pic of the new Compact LTI just released in the market lol;
http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/lores/S89-37649.jpg
http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/lores/S89-37644.jpg
Suf Daddy
11-22-2007, 12:05 AM
The "NASA" LIDAR of Ebay a few weeks ago didn't work.
If its back on Ebay through another seller, its a conversation piece. Which doesn't work.
Caveat Emptor.
noorudeenshakur
11-22-2007, 02:36 AM
The "NASA" LIDAR of Ebay a few weeks ago didn't work.
If its back on Ebay through another seller, its a conversation piece. Which doesn't work.
Caveat Emptor.
Lets see if I can clear up this thread a little bit. Having owned both a NASA Atlas and A PL2 I can tell you that there is no comparing the 2 outside of their looks.
They are 2 totally different guns. The PL2 is a piece of crap in comparison to the NASA gun, both in looks(IMO) and in performance. With the NASA gun I could lock planes flying over my house 5000 feet away almost instantly. No such luck with a PL2...it was JTG not even a peep of sound :)
There is a huge difference in Hardware between the 2 also. NASA has a massive transmitting Laser in it where the PL2 is pretty small in comparison. Just looking into the lense of the 2 you can see the huge difference.
If you look at the insides...hell the PL2 looks like a crappy piece of technology from the 60's and the LA looks pimped out. I mean there is so much extra stuff in that LA it isnt even funny.
The NASA gun is great and all, but really it belongs in the hand of a collector or scientist hell even a museum not in the hands of the laser jamming community. (oh boy here comes the heat now)
Its a marvel of engineering really.
Just my 2 cents on it.
I dont want to get into an argument with anyone on this that the NASA LA is just a rebranded PL2 because it isnt.
Hope that clears it up.
specialchicken
11-22-2007, 03:11 AM
clears it up...but I think the PL2 looks better...the NASA gun looks like an unfinished project
noorudeenshakur
11-22-2007, 03:51 AM
clears it up...but I think the PL2 looks better...the NASA gun looks like an unfinished project
http://badmachine.net/pub/orly_baby.gif
The NASA gun is pimped!
No comparison between the 2. I'll show you you guys whats under the hood ;)
Keep an eye on my videos its uploading but I have to step out so the video will be up before I get back to post the link.
Enjoy.
Won Hunglo
11-22-2007, 07:34 AM
But can the NASA gun determine speed?
noorudeenshakur
11-22-2007, 09:50 AM
Comparison:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeMzQiYgHVE
Sorry it came out dark on youtube :(
Still Good though enjoy :)
PMoth
11-22-2007, 10:17 AM
Even after reviewing the video, the electronics still look very similar in both guns. Aside from the trasmitting laser diode, they are probably still the same gun. I can build a basic amplifying circuit with a breadboard and thru-hole components that works great. I can build that same circuit with surface mount .5 - 1% components on a trace circuit board. Everyone would say that the surface mount circuit is way better and there is no comparison because it is far more compact and a cleaner neater design. But the reality is that both amplifier circuits will perform the same. I would assume the Atlas 1000 to be to the PL2 what the Ultralyte LR is to the standard Ultralyte. Who knows, it may even be easier to JTG than the PL2. Cloccking planes sure is nifty though, but dont get caught!!! :shock:
lsrguru
11-22-2007, 01:25 PM
The primary goal for NASA was to measure closing speed and range. Laser Atlanta submitted this gun but it didnt make the cut. NASA has some pretty stringent acceptance testing and rejected all other manufacturers who couldnt meet the specs, especially shooting through thick laminated glass windows.
I would be very wary of staring into that laser as you operate it.
Its interesting that LA was told to use the Kustom Falcon housing to build the initial PL speed guns so they looked like guns the police were used to using. The concentric lens design is a throwback to older military rangefinder design and didnt last into the next generation lasers.
The initial PL guns were a joke when you opened the hood.... wires everywhere and crappy performance. Probably the reason Kustom Signals ended up sueing LA and causing the split up that saw LaserCraft emerge and then become the company building lidars for Kustom. LA nows builds a competing unit of questionable performance.
You guys need to read some history on these companys before going nuts about their products. Their current designs and technology is still generations behind the current state of the art lidars out there. Their mode of operation and speed determination methods are still amateurish.
from the guru....
oh and thanks for fixing the image - thought I followed the instructions for posting images but it didnt work.
noorudeenshakur
11-23-2007, 11:56 PM
Some photos of the transmitting diodes between the PL2 and NASA Laser Atlanta.
Photo's dont do it justice....the difference is huge. Both photos were taken with the camera resting on the lense of the gun looking down the barrel, and are exactly the same distance away.
No its not an optical illusion the difference in size is that much. One takes up the entire bottom while the other takes up only the centre inside a spacer.
Lets see if anyone can guess which is which.
Photo #1 (hint, hint.....unpimped)
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/robertomaldini/DSC01979Large.jpg
Photo#2 (24 karat "bling bling" pimped out diode) :lol: Looks kinda like a alien face! hehe
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/robertomaldini/DSC01954Large.jpg
I have to agree with the laser guru...you definitely dont want to be looking at that diode when its in operation.
I think this is probably the reason it has such long ass ranging on it.
Incredible isnt it!
Anyone know what kind of Laser Diode is in that LA from looking at it? I've never seen anything like that one before, its HUGE!