Space Station Could Get Laser Cannon to Destroy Orbital Debris.

This 2013 graphic shows the cloud of space junk surrounding Earth.  The International Space Station could one day get armed with a laser to shoot down orbiting debris, researchers say.This concept could eventually lead to a laser-firing satellite that could get rid of a large percentage of the most troublesome space junk orbiting Earth, scientists added.NASA researchers suggest that nearly 3,000 tons of space debris reside in low-Earth orbit, including derelict satellites, rocket bodies and parts and tiny bits of wreckage produced by collisions involving larger objects. Impacts from pieces of junk that are only the size of screws can still inflict catastrophic damage on satellites, since these projectiles can travel at speeds on the order of 22,370 mph (36,000 km/h).