'Look Sir... Droids'

NASA is looking to Star Wars for ideas. One scientist wants to see small, relatively inexpensive "smart" satellites that can "fly in formation" and conduct scientific experiments and exploration. Some test droids are up on the space shuttle now.

Said the scientist, a lead researcher at MIT:

"I rented the first 'Star Wars' movie and showed (a) class the scene where Luke is practicing the use of the Force with a floating droid," Miller told the Christian Science Monitor. "I said: 'I want three of those. How do we start doing this?'"

The results came in the form of 9-pound spheres the size of bowling balls, each crammed with computers, sensors and thrusters that allow the satellites to maneuver individually and en masse with precision.

NASA to Use Space Age 'Droid' Satellites [UPI]