the nuke of future

[peter grimes]

Such an explosion when directed at the right place can put the asteroid off-orbit thus preventing the collision. If one doesn't help then send another.

Perhaps. But from what I've read it seems that a braking technique or slow acceleration technique is less costly and more predictable in outcome.

Give this report to Congress a quick read; specifically the paragraphs under the heading 'Precision Matters'.

Essentially, the report acknowledges the utility of using a nuclear explosion to change the orbit, but suggests that there are better tool in our kit already.

 

[zxcvbnm]

How about clinging to them and blowing them to pieces when they are far away from Earth? And what can we do with our nukes if not that???

 

[peter grimes]

And what can we do with our nukes if not that???

Reprocess them into fuel rods - precisely what Nunn/Lugar is doing as we speak

 

[zxcvbnm]

Reprocess them into fuel rods - precisely what Nunn/Lugar is doing as we speak

Or do this:

A successful deflection requires both adequate strength and high precision. Immediately following an impulsive deflection the new orbit of the asteroid must be precisely determined and examined for a future keyhole transit. if headed for a keyhole then a small "trim" maneuver can be executed using a weak but precise "slow push" (as NASA refers to it) deflection to avoid that critical passage.
This combination of imprecise strength and precise adjustment is both necessary and sufficient to declare to the world that a fully successful deflection has been achieved. NASA completely missed this essential point in its analysis.

So first with a nuke and then with an accurate tractor device.

 

[peter grimes]

Absolutely - but you don't need to keep thousand of them sitting around for that. At the same time, you absolutely have to trust that the gadget still works

 

[Sir Matzee]

why should we continue?

To conquest the universe

Absolutely - but you don't need to keep thousand of them sitting around for that. At the same time, you absolutely have to trust that the gadget still works

we don't need thousand of them

and what will we do if thousand of asteroyds are coming to the hearh?

 

[peter grimes]

NASA and a European group are actively hunting for Near Earth Objects (NEOs). When an object is spotted, it is cataloged, the orbit is described, and then they determine if the object poses a threat.

There aren't going to be thousands of objects that cross Earth's orbit requiring a nuclear response. For that matter, I wonder if the existing devices are even appropriate for that use - I suspect they aren't.