It would seem that NASA is doing some investigation into “Tractor Beams”, which is a laser that can trap moving objects. It will be used to gather samples for analysis on distant planets and moons. The US space agency has handed out over £62,000 for an investigation into the best collection methods for use in space.

Dr Paul Stysley says

“Experiments have shown that laser-based trapping of particles is not beyond us”

Who is the principal investigator on tractor beam research at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

“If we can figure out the best way to do it, then scale it up, we could collect samples from, say, comet tails over greater distances and longer time periods than is possible.”

The first technique being explored is “optical tweezers”, which is already used on Earth. Others include solenoid beams, Bessel beam, but of course it’s still early days.

Just trying to move tiny particles at the distances required for sample collection is an ambitious goal, which is probably 10 years away”

Apparently it was first thought to use it for cleaning up orbital debris. But to control something so large is far beyond current technology. So it would seem that soon Star Trek will become a thing of fact, rather than fiction! (in terms of actually producing the technology involved in Star Trek).