NASA evaluating "tractor beam" technologies
Goddard Space Flight Center's Barry Coyle, Paul Stysley, and Demetrios Poulios (L to R) have won NASA funding to study advanced technologies for collecting extraterrestrial particle samples (Image: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Debora McCallum)
Article Summary
NASA is looking to turn another staple of science fiction to practical use by studying ways to make “tractor beams” a reality. While none of the technologies under the microscope will be able to transport anything the size of a modified YT-1300 Corellian freighter – at least in the short term – the researchers will examine if it is possible to trap and move planetary or atmospheric particles using laser light so they can be delivered to a robotic rover or orbiting spacecraft for analysis.
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