this invention is a beam rider system and method that utilizes polarization - agile millimeter beams . information is spatially encoded in the beams by varying the rate of rotation of the linearly polarized vector of the beams . in one embodiment , information is encoded on a beam that is nutated around a centerline flight path of a missile . in another embodiment , information is encoded on four parallel beams that form a centerline which is the intended flight path of the missile . receiver means in the flying missile receive and decode information from the beams and use this decoded information to guide the missile to a target .