Posted on 07/26/2018 3:52:43 PM PDT by BenLurkin
It may sound like it came straight from a science fiction novel, but the scientists believe taking an entire asteroid could provide an ample source of minerals of industrial and economic importance.
It could also improve current research into the origins of the solar system as well as the beginnings of water and life on Earth, while reducing the threat posed by near-Earth objects.
"Unlike missions to bring samples back, we aim to bring back a whole asteroid weighing several hundred tonnes, which could turn asteroids with a potential threat to Earth into usable resources," says Li Mingtao, researcher at the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Li and his team advanced the idea at a contest for future technologies held in Shenzhen, south of Guangdong Province in China.
How does one capture an asteroid, even one that is smaller than the rest? The team proposes to design a spacecraft that can wield an enormous bag that can be used to carry the asteroid as it pushes it toward Earth.
(Excerpt) Read more at techtimes.com ...
Probably 30% of monsters have come from meteorites. This is news.
China has a Spacewalk under water and now they can do anything
At full speed to 21.4225° N, 39.82617° E?
Sounds great, what could go wrong?
Get the Nukes ready and if it hits anyplace on Earth beside China, Nuke them
If mankind is to be the author of its own demise, the Chinese are most likely to be the (ir)responsible party. Whether it’s poisoned food, a biological experiment gone horribly wrong, or a lassoed meteor slamming into earth at 20,000 miles per hour, look to the Chinese to get us all killed.
300 tonnes, eh?
fine with me, so long as they make sure to land it in a safe uninhabited area
They could bring it down over the US, and...
or they can land it on that other space rock in Mecca, indeed that could be a great public benefit for almost the entire world
They and other nations start bringing asteroids and other natural satellite mining to Earth, eventually, the planet is going to get out of balance and start wobbling.
Think washing machine on spin cycle with blankets or pillows.
It won’t be pretty.
WOOM! WOOM! WOOMWOOM! WOOMWOOM! WOOMWOOMWOOM! WOOMWOOMWOOM!
Next eyesore...large plastic bags and rubber nets floating around in space.
I'm sure that thought has never occurred to them.
If they hit the Russians they could move into Siberia like they have been longing to do.
Yikes! Better to collect only the good asteroids in near space and use asteroid glue to hold them tightly in a big holding area until needed.
Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle...
A bit dated (written in the 1970s), but deals with the effects of an asteroid strike and the ordeal survivors face...
Survive the strike, then deal with the feral survivors who see you and yours as prey...
De-orbiting a giant space rock onto you adversary would be a powerful weapon...
Once in custody they will torture it for information.
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