Supercomputer helps U.S. identify objects in space

(CNN) -- Unidentified flying objects have a new nemesis on planet Earth: a supercomputer that makes IBM's Deep Blue seem like a pocket calculator.

The U.S. Air Force has enlisted the aid of the powerful digital sleuth to unmask a slew of mysterious objects lurking in space, from old satellites to international spacecraft to unclassifiable objects.

The new supercomputer assembles photos of objects tracked by U.S. Air Force telescopes, helping to ensure the nation's defense as well as the safety of NASA space flights," read an IBM statement on Friday.

IBM makes the new IBM SP supercomputer, which can process 480 billion calculations per second and is 40 times faster than its Deep Blue supercomputer that defeated chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997.

Using algorithms to digitally enhance pictures taken by telescopes on the ground, the monster machine gives government researchers a clearer view of the heavens as they track satellites and other orbiting objects.

The improved pictures help them identify floating space debris and even assess damage to orbiting spacecraft.

The new supercomputer resides at the University of New Mexico's Maui High Performance Computing Center. The machine sports 320 IBM Power3-II microprocessors and 224 gigabytes of memory.

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IBM

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