Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Deflected Asteroids May Keep Coming Back
New Scientist ^ | 11-17-2007

Posted on 11/17/2007 2:07:34 PM PST by blam

Deflected asteroids may keep coming back

17 November 2007

What goes around comes around. Unfortunately, no such karma figures in plans to deflect asteroids on a collision course with Earth, a hearing of the US House Science and Technology Committee was told last week. One big whack will deflect an asteroid temporarily, but does not guarantee safety next time its orbit brings it close.

Asteroid researchers have long debated the merits of deflecting asteroids with a powerful blast such as a nuclear explosion. However, Rusty Schweickart, who heads an asteroid research group called the B612 Foundation, told the committee that the effects of powerful blasts are hard to predict, especially if Earth's gravitational pull acts on the object. An asteroid could pass through one of the "keyholes" that would nudge it back onto a collision course, so once diverted it might need to be steered past Earth to prevent this.

(Excerpt) Read more at space.newscientist.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: asteroids; collision; deflected; earth
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-97 next last
To: cripplecreek

Mass is always an issue if you want to move it.


21 posted on 11/17/2007 2:44:07 PM PST by SampleMan (We are a free and industrious people. Socialist nannies do not become us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Spktyr
“””Or use the hollowed out shell as either a space station or colony ship”””

{[He whines]}”but that will cost money that would be better seized by uncle gov’t to pay for my welfare check” {[Whine off]}

Seriously, that makes sense, but will never happen through the auspices of gov’t, at least not so long as “We. the People” think the purpose of gov’t is to take from those who have more, and give to “me”.

We get exactly the government we want, whether or not it is the government we should have.. Thats why the founding fathers said that in order for any system of self government to survive, the electorate must be moral AND educated. Pity that we are no longer neither.

22 posted on 11/17/2007 2:44:09 PM PST by MCCRon58 (A man unwilling to fight for freedom and liberty, deserve neither. (Ain't much of a man, either))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: MCCRon58

Now there’s an idea, make the welfare check dependent on getting training and being one of the colonists on the ship/station.


23 posted on 11/17/2007 2:45:22 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: SampleMan

Obviously but with enough lead time you only have to move it a little at a time.


24 posted on 11/17/2007 2:46:44 PM PST by cripplecreek (Only one consistent conservative in this race and his name is Hunter.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: blam

They are not looking at the mineral value of these gifts of the cosmos. An asteroid could be captured if they wanted.


25 posted on 11/17/2007 2:48:44 PM PST by RightWhale (anti-razors are pro-life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ml/nj

Picture a bunker buster. The nuke drives into the asteroid and explodes, a small portion of the asteroid ejects at very high speed in the form of gas and rubble. This force is matched by the rest of the asteroid moving very slowly in the opposite direction.

The fear is that the asteroid is frangible and you end end up with a pile of rubble heading towards earth like a shotgun blast.


26 posted on 11/17/2007 2:49:18 PM PST by dangerdoc (dangerdoc (not actually dangerous any more))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: ml/nj

Any blast causes damage by extreme overpressure on exposed objects. A pulse of force.


27 posted on 11/17/2007 2:49:59 PM PST by GregoryFul (is a bear a bomb in a bull?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: ml/nj
A nuclear explosion produces energy which isn't quite the same thing.

Must be something in the detonation that lifts the target into the upper stratosphere. The problem is that asteroids are now seen better and appear to be loose piles of rubble rather than solid objects so a detonation would create several smaller piles still on roughly the same course. Would it be better to spread the collision with earth over an area or let it hit a small area?

28 posted on 11/17/2007 2:53:21 PM PST by RightWhale (anti-razors are pro-life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: NonValueAdded

Excellent cost-effective solution!


29 posted on 11/17/2007 2:55:28 PM PST by MonicaG (In hoc signo vinces)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Spktyr
What, put conditions on the “free” government money?? Oh what a hateful heartless person you are. -grin-
30 posted on 11/17/2007 2:59:00 PM PST by MCCRon58 (A man unwilling to fight for freedom and liberty, deserve neither. (Ain't much of a man, either))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: RightWhale
An asteroid could be captured if they wanted.

By what means? I ask out of sincere curiousity. I have read about means to deflect but not capture one.
31 posted on 11/17/2007 3:01:51 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: weegee

Once the orbit of an asteroid is determined it may be that a lot of options would be available. There are points in an orbit that are extremely sensitive to an external push. These Legandre points are balance points between influential gravitational bodies. Push a little bit at one of these points, and one can redirect enormously, the future path of the asteroid. Astronomical Ju-Jitsu.


32 posted on 11/17/2007 3:02:25 PM PST by GregoryFul (is a bear a bomb in a bull?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Balding_Eagle

I forgot about global warming! You’re right—no problem!


33 posted on 11/17/2007 3:05:22 PM PST by Clara Lou (Thompson '08)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: blam
What a great way for an ex-astronaut to augment their retirement income! - Form a 501(c)(3), generate publicity by circulating some scare story and testifying before congress, fund raise, spend the required 20% on “foundation activities” (read more fund raising) and skim the rest!

Either Mr Schweickart’s orbital mechanics skills have suffered over the years or the Global Warming faithful at the New Scientist have chosen to misinterpret his testimony in order to promote yet another “End Of The World!!!” cult based on junk science.

34 posted on 11/17/2007 3:06:26 PM PST by InABunkerUnderSF ("Gun Control" is not about the guns. "Illegal Immigration" is not about the immigration)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Army Air Corps

To capture requires two impulses. The first impulse changes the orbit so it has the required apogee and the second, some time later when the asteroid has arrived in the right place but wrong velocity, changes the velocity so apogee and perigee are correct. The asteroid will then be in orbit around earth where it may be picked over later at some convenient time.


35 posted on 11/17/2007 3:06:36 PM PST by RightWhale (anti-razors are pro-life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: RightWhale

Are we talking about detonations near the body or impulses from reaction motors attached to the surface?


36 posted on 11/17/2007 3:08:25 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: blam

keep in mind that many asteroids are really low density flying rock piles.


37 posted on 11/17/2007 3:09:23 PM PST by ari-freedom (I am for traditional moral values, a strong national defense, and free markets.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Army Air Corps

I would put ion motors on the body and apply continuous thrust, which means an infinite series of impulses rather than just two. This would keep the pile more or less intact. It’s similar in effect to the two impulse method as far as orbital mechanics goes, although much slower.


38 posted on 11/17/2007 3:12:17 PM PST by RightWhale (anti-razors are pro-life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: blam

Astronaut Russell ‘Rusty’ Schweickart was the Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 9.


39 posted on 11/17/2007 3:13:32 PM PST by The KG9 Kid
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Army Air Corps
Eeeasy!!! Just go out to the asteroid, vaporize the rock, form it into a giant solar sail and sail it into earth orbit.

All right, we can get there with an Ares rocket (if it ever flies that is). Vaporize it how? Capture the vapor in what? form the sail by what means? Navigate it how? These are just details. As with any good "space mining" scheme these things will be worked out later.

Engineering is one skill set, visionary thinking is completely different. :-)

40 posted on 11/17/2007 3:16:37 PM PST by InABunkerUnderSF ("Gun Control" is not about the guns. "Illegal Immigration" is not about the immigration)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-97 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson