美国空军的科学家们正在不声不响地准备无疑是目前设想的最先进激光通讯系统。起先在莱特-帕特森空军基地航空电子学实验室、现在在总部工作的空军航天与导弹系统组织的一个小组,正在向于1980年后期进行的一次“激光通讯机”——一种航天激光通讯系统——卫星飞行试验推进。从1971年“激光通讯机”开始时就参与工作的航天与导弹系统组织的计划主任弗里德曼(Paul M.Freedman)评述:“从各种意义上说,它是一种开路先锋性质的计划。” Scientists at the U.S. Air Force are quietly preparing the state-of-the-art laser communications system that is currently envisioned. A team initially organized at the Airborne Electronics Laboratory at Wright Patterson AFB, now part of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Unit at Headquarters, is in the midst of a “lasercom” in late 1980 Aerospace Laser Communications System - Satellite Flight Test Propulsion. Paul M. Freedman, program director of the Space and Missile Systems organization involved in the operation from 1971, “Laser Communicator,” commented: “In every sense, it is an open circuit Pioneer nature plan. ”