Two sets of experiments indicate a renewal of interest in South Africa in the topic of laser propulsion. Both sets were conducted under the auspices ofthe new National Laser Center. In the first set, a 1 kW, C02 laser (1 kHz, 1 J, 1 00 ns) was used to propel small (ca 1 gram) targets through a vertical tube-launcher and the momentum-coupling coefficient for a variety of conditions was estimated. The somewhat disappointing results were accounted for in terms of the poor beam quality from a single oscillator and premature break-down of the exhaust vapor in the tube. These experiments were conducted with one module ofthe now dismantled MLIS" uranium isotope separation system.The second set of experiments are being conducted in Durban with a smaller but more energetic "marking" laser. (C02, 20 Hz., 4 J, 100 ns). The chiefpurpose ofthis, was to better understand the discrepancies between the recent vertical propulsion experiment at Pelindaba and earlier propulsion attempts with the original MLIS chain. Preliminary pendulum experiments were carried out. Burning targets exhibited enhanced coupling for single pulses.

With the launch of the South African National Laser Centre, new programs will need to be defined. Medical, environmental and industrial laser applications must obviously take top priority -as opposed to the uranium isotope separation and military applications of the past. We argue however, that a small effort in laser ablation for space propulsion is justifiable, since a few very large CO2 lasers are available and since two tentative propulsion experiments have already been conducted in South Africa.We attempt to give LISP (Laser Impulse Space Propulsion) an equatorial and a Southern dimension.

The words of this title may at first seem incompatible. We review a range of experiments where dynamic structures have been created. We show that it is possible to construct gas and plasma shapes using colliding shocks cigars and cylinders, curved waveguides, and even waveguides with rectangular cross sections. The colliding plasma lens/isolator lead to the colliding shock lens. We now suggest that colliding shock waveguides could find application in laser acceleration and soft X ray schemes. Colliding shock waveguides can be as long as necessary unlike gas jets.

A brief description and use of two LIDAR (Acronym for LIght Detection And Ranging) systems in the measurements of atmospheric aerosols and vertical temperature profiles above Durban are presented. Early local aerosol profiles for low medium and high altitudes from the old LIDAR are shown. With the recent installation of the new LIDAR, vertical temperature measurements in the troposphere and stratosphere are made possible.A first validation of the new LIDAR has been carried out showing atmospheric wave activity above the Southern African continent for the first time.It is envisaged in the future to correlate the results obtained with the new LIDAR, especially for the low altitude, with those of the old LIDAR. Plans are also going ahead to implement an additional channel on the new LIDAR which will measure ozone concentration in the troposphere.