Star Wars-style lasers could help scientists accurately pinpoint space junk in orbit

Star Wars-style lasers could help future space missions to accurately pinpoint the location of space junk in Earth's orbit and avoid deadly collisions. Millions of pieces of space junk are currently whizzing around the planet at around 20,000 miles per hour -- providing a threat to future rockets and space craft. However a new system based on neural networks has provided a better way to keep track of these hazardous objects with telescopes. The approach can detect debris as small as 3 feet wide and allow courses to be plotted to avoid them. Star Wars-style lasers could help future space missions to accurately pinpoint the location of space junk in Earth's orbit and avoid deadly collisions.