EVD wrote:

snip
Here is what I saw.

A device, which I can only describe as resembling an automobile
transmission, had what appeared to be 4 rocket exhaust nozzles mounted
around the circumference about mid-body pointing radially from the
centerline one at each 90 degrees (one pointing down, one up, one left,
one right). There also appeared to be several much smaller rocket
nozzles at one end of device pointing away from the centerline.
snip
originally been pointing out to the side is now pointing down and it
takes on the role of being the primary provider of lift as it fires
spectacularly in a pulsing fashion. You hear the voice in the
background calling out "hover", "rotate", "hover" as this thing goes
through its maneuvers. Finally after either all planned moves are
completed or the fuel is exhausted, all rocket motors shut off and the
thing falls into a net. Cheers can be heard from the guys conducting
the flight test.
snip
My question is, what was this thing? Surely, someone out there has seen
this footage as I, an avid watcher of Discovery Wings, have seen it more
than once. Thanks for clearing this question up for me. If this
footage happens to be posted on a web site somewhere, share the address!
Thanks!

I believe this to be a test of some aspects of the "brilliant pebbles"
system.

I think the intention in this case was for it to be part of an ABM system,
part of the result of what star-wars became, after it became clear that
the insane levels of funding were not going to happen.

It never attracted funding to be fielded, though elements were used on
Clementine, a test of some other hardware that went to the moon.