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

To: CurlyDave
The unknowns are what happens 100-200 and more orbits from now when a close encounter now could become a direct hit then.

Yes, big data and supercomputers doesn't equal omniscient. If we can model things inside Jupiter's orbit well 50-100 years out and do enough R&D to elevate the logically proposed solutions from theory to engineering we should be able deflect most of natures challenges and correct most of our own 'oops.' Our history in space shows the last step is necessary, beautiful theories aren't enough. Things incoming from beyond Jupiter become harder to spot, predict and this avoid. Someone needs to deduce where to position sensors to collect useful data on potential impactors that can't be acquired near Earth and send suitable probes there. Prioritize shrinking our bind spots. First nearer and riskier. Eventually further out.

42 posted on 07/02/2017 3:06:51 PM PDT by JohnBovenmyer (Waiting for the tweets to hatch!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies ]


To: JohnBovenmyer
...Someone needs to deduce where to position sensors to collect useful data on potential impactors that can't be acquired near Earth and send suitable probes there. Prioritize shrinking our bind spots. First nearer and riskier. Eventually further out.

I have long felt that the way to do this was to allow commercial ventures in space.

For instance, the right to name new objects belongs to the discoverer. If we changed that to allow the financer of the sensors and telescopes that made the discovery to designate names, we might have to live with comets named Budweiser 2020, but a lot of money would come into the search for new objects in space.

43 posted on 07/02/2017 6:38:37 PM PDT by CurlyDave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies ]

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