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U.N. Urged to Take On Asteroid Threat (2036?)(Freep Poll)
AOL News/Reuters ^ | February 18, 2007 | Irene Klotz

Posted on 02/19/2007 1:35:54 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

SAN FRANCISCO (Feb. 18) - An asteroid may come uncomfortably close to Earth in 2036 and the United Nations should assume responsibility for a space mission to deflect it, a group of astronauts, engineers and scientists said on Saturday.

Astronomers are monitoring an asteroid named Apophis, which has a 1 in 45,000 chance of striking Earth on April 13, 2036.

Although the odds of an impact by this particular asteroid are low, a recent congressional mandate for NASA to upgrade its tracking of near-Earth asteroids is expected to uncover hundreds, if not thousands of threatening space rocks in the near future, former astronaut Rusty Schweickart said.

"It's not just Apophis we're looking at. Every country is at risk. We need a set of general principles to deal with this issue," Schweickart, a member of the Apollo 9 crew that orbited the earth in March 1969, told an American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in San Francisco.

Schweickart plans to present an update next week to the U.N. Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on plans to develop a blueprint for a global response to an asteroid threat.

The Association of Space Explorers, a group of former astronauts and cosmonauts, intends to host a series of high-level workshops this year to flesh out the plan and will make a formal proposal to the U.N. in 2009, he said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: apocalypse; asteroid; astronauts; endofworld; future; nasa; spaceprogram; unitednations
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1 posted on 02/19/2007 1:35:59 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

With the United Nations at the helm...

WE ARE DOOMED!


2 posted on 02/19/2007 1:44:22 AM PST by endthematrix (Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Get the t-shirt:

UN Blue Helmets Kick Asteroid

3 posted on 02/19/2007 1:47:58 AM PST by HKMk23 (No view is admirable or infernal but that the root principle makes it so.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
It's the asteroids we don't know about that worry me..

As much as I can be worried about something that is completely beyond my control, that is..

4 posted on 02/19/2007 1:54:39 AM PST by Drammach ("If you make yourselves sheep, the wolves will eat you." -- Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Drammach
Why is it that these conferences always get held in places like San Fransisco, LA, NY or Philly? Can't we have conferences like this in Iuka, Ripley, or Biloxi? Seems unfair that worldly announcements get made all the time in "status-cities", and real towns in America never get a chance to bask in the glamor of hot news. Heck....these guys won't even have a conference like this in New Orleans. If they had waited two weeks after Mardi Gras....they could have gotten cheap rooms, reasonably priced strippers, and some great Cajun food for a fair price.
5 posted on 02/19/2007 1:59:00 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

What are they going to do? Send it a "strongly worded" letter demanding it stop?

Interestingly enough a few weeks ago a friend and I were talking after seeing Independence Day about the fact this world who hates us supposedly would all be counting on us as the only people who could save the rest of the world from any alien attack or asteroid.

I'd want to tell Europe to call their friend Osama.


6 posted on 02/19/2007 1:59:48 AM PST by dleecomeback07 (Pitchers and catchers report February 15th)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Hildabeast,RATS, and RINO's can tax the asteroids! Problem solved.
7 posted on 02/19/2007 2:00:36 AM PST by Las Vegas Dave (HDTV ping list, please FReepmail me if you would like your name added.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I cannot comprehend that anyone would actually want the UN in charge of saving the world.

It's planetary suicide


8 posted on 02/19/2007 2:00:47 AM PST by Greenpees (Coulda Shoulda Woulda)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The UN has a comittee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space? WHAT?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No wonder they can't find their butts with both hands.


9 posted on 02/19/2007 2:01:54 AM PST by dleecomeback07 (Pitchers and catchers report February 15th)
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U.N. Urged to Take On Asteroid Threat

French Peacekeepers will be sent!

10 posted on 02/19/2007 2:05:00 AM PST by ChristianDefender (Never Give Your Enemy (ROP) A Foothold.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Astronomers are monitoring an asteroid named Apophis, which has a 1 in 45,000 chance of striking Earth on April 13, 2036.

Any exact coordinates on where or what country it will fall? Because in my opinion if it's headin' for Darfur, Sudan, United Nations will surely ignore it... except for Gaza or Kosovo.

11 posted on 02/19/2007 2:09:45 AM PST by ChristianDefender (Never Give Your Enemy (ROP) A Foothold.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

UN should have a countermeasure ready by 2050.


12 posted on 02/19/2007 2:14:15 AM PST by Eclectica (Ask your MD about Evolution. Please!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
POLL RESULTS

Do you think asteroids pose a serious threat to Earth?
Yes 78% No 22%
Total Votes: 346,925

Is the U.N. the right agency to address the threat?
Yes 54% No 46%
Total Votes: 338,742

About what I expected from AOL!

13 posted on 02/19/2007 2:15:55 AM PST by Las Vegas Dave (HDTV ping list, please FReepmail me if you would like your name added.)
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To: endthematrix

My guess is that having seen the movie, the UN will call upon Bruec Willis.


14 posted on 02/19/2007 2:16:23 AM PST by mkmensinger
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To: mkmensinger

More than likely Tim Robbins will fill the role...


15 posted on 02/19/2007 2:19:54 AM PST by endthematrix (Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought.)
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To: dleecomeback07

too busy finding other butts with both hands


16 posted on 02/19/2007 2:21:26 AM PST by Nailbiter
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To: mkmensinger

Whoops! That's Bruce, not Bruec.


17 posted on 02/19/2007 2:28:44 AM PST by mkmensinger
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To: mkmensinger
I feel certain that the asteroid cannot be touched or interfered with in any way.

The announcement by Reuters et el. that it is among the holiest of Islamic sites and houses a Muslim prayer room is surely imminent.
18 posted on 02/19/2007 3:41:11 AM PST by rod1
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

That's something I'd trust the UN to do.


19 posted on 02/19/2007 3:43:19 AM PST by Brilliant
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To: Las Vegas Dave
Do you think asteroids pose a serious threat to Earth?

Yes 78% No 22%

Conclusion: 78% of the poll respondents went government schools where the highest math course offered was arithmetic.

20 posted on 02/19/2007 3:56:31 AM PST by vox humana
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