Posted on 11/01/2011 9:58:16 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
US space agency Nasa has funded a study of "tractor beams" to gather samples for analysis in future missions.
The $100,000 (£63,000) award will be used to examine three laser-based approaches to do what has until now been the stuff of science fiction.
Several tractor-beam ideas have been published in the scientific literature but none has yet been put to use.
Nasa scientist Paul Stysley says the approach could "enhance science goals and reduce mission risk".
"Though a mainstay in science fiction, and Star Trek in particular, laser-based trapping isn't fanciful or beyond current technological know-how," said Dr Stysley of Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center, whose group was awarded the research funding.
High-beam profile
The team has identified three possible options to capture and gather up sample material either in future orbiting spacecraft or on planetary rovers.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Ping.
What a waste of money, tractor beams.
if NASA did developed us a tractor beam? NASA build a tractor beam? Eb... 
have you lost your mind?
No, but if NASA did develope a tractor beam... 
we could plow at night!
If red X above go to http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kng9nNTclfs/SipdWZVPqII/AAAAAAAAApg/V5iX99dhM8w/s320/GreenAcres_tractor.jpg or http://www.maggiore.net/greenacres/images/wallpaper4.jpg or http://www.tvchannelsfree.com/tcfcrawler/thumbs/000/139/139467.jpg
Well, it might be a great way to clean up all the little bits of space junk in orbit...
How does a light beam pick something up? Won’t it reflect off of it?
impart an electrical charge on the sample and the opposite charge on the ship.
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On September 9, 1942, Albert enlisted in the United States Navy and was discharged in 1943 to accept an appointment as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V” for his actions during the invasion of Tarawa in November 1943, when, as the pilot of a U.S. Coast Guard landing craft, he rescued 47 Marines who were stranded offshore (and supervised the rescue of 30 others), while under heavy enemy machine-gun fire.
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