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-   -   Why Don't We Have An Asteroid Interceptor? (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/953611-why-dont-we-have-asteroid-interceptor.html)

KFC911 04-19-2017 01:04 PM

^^^ Not only did I watch, I read along :)

jyl 04-19-2017 06:20 PM

I think none of the solutions that require matching velocities with an asteroid will work.

A killer asteroid is likely to be on an trajectory such that we will not be able to send a vehicle to intercept it and then "dock" with it. We can send probes to orbit or even land on other planets because the planet is in an orbit sort of concentric with Earth's and the planet has enough gravity to capture the probe. Neither is the case with an asteroid like 2014 J025.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/...1258183694.jpg

At least you certainly can't count on being able to do so.

The asteroid interceptor needs to work without matching velocities with the asteroid. All the ideas about mounting light sails or whatever on the asteroid are just fantasies. If the asteroid is in an orbit that allows us to do that, then it isn't a killer asteroid.

Geronimo '74 04-20-2017 03:47 AM

in 2027 there wil be one passing much closer than that.

On August 7, 2027, "1999 AN10" will pass within 0.0026 AU (390,000 km; 240,000 mi) (~1 lunar distance) of the Earth. During the close approach, the asteroid should peak at about apparent magnitude 7.3, and will be visible in binoculars.

red-beard 04-20-2017 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl (Post 9557552)
The asteroid interceptor needs to work without matching velocities with the asteroid. All the ideas about mounting light sails or whatever on the asteroid are just fantasies. If the asteroid is in an orbit that allows us to do that, then it isn't a killer asteroid.

All the ideas of "blowing up" an asteroid with a nuclear tipped missile are fantasy.

GH85Carrera 04-20-2017 09:18 AM

Yea, to get a satellite to orbit a comet it took 12 fricking YEARS to get there. And it sure did not have the payload to deliver any way to divert or destroy an asteroid.

http://d1jqu7g1y74ds1.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tumblr_mj0vvcqnZx1qdlh1io1_400.gif

flipper35 04-20-2017 09:55 AM

I am not worried. Planet X will save us.

scottmandue 04-20-2017 11:33 AM

Didn't we land a probe on an asteroid recently?

NASA Lands Probe on Asteroid - ABC News

The answer is obvious... instead of moving the asteroid we move the earth!!!

BReif61 04-20-2017 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue (Post 9558346)
The answer is obvious... instead of moving the asteroid we move the earth!!!

Just put all available jet engines on hardstands as close to the equator as possible and crank them to full throttle. Increase the rotational speed of the earth and change our orbit enough to miss the asteroid! FOOLPROOF!

GH85Carrera 04-20-2017 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue (Post 9558346)
Didn't we land a probe on an asteroid recently?

NASA Lands Probe on Asteroid - ABC News

The answer is obvious... instead of moving the asteroid we move the earth!!!



Eros is in a fairly stable orbit out close to Mars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/433_Eros

It is not flying at Earth at thousands of miles per second.

red-beard 04-20-2017 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera (Post 9558389)
Eros is in a fairly stable orbit out close to Mars.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/433_Eros

It is not flying at Earth at thousands of miles per second.

Eros does NOT have a stable orbit. It is a fairly large ellipse

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492719740.jpg

It crosses Mars orbit on a regular basis and swings 2/3rds the way to Earth's orbit. It is NOT in the Asteroid belt.

red-beard 04-20-2017 12:24 PM

Here is the Asteroid Belt.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492719864.jpg

Eros might swing into the edge, but it is a Mars Crossing Asteroid.

jyl 04-20-2017 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard (Post 9557863)
All the ideas of "blowing up" an asteroid with a nuclear tipped missile are fantasy.

But changing its course by 0.0001 degree is very feasible. And that's all you need.

Jim Richards 04-20-2017 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard (Post 9558433)
Here is the Asteroid Belt.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492719864.jpg

Eros might swing into the edge, but it is a Mars Crossing Asteroid.

We're domed! http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/wat5.gif

rusnak 04-20-2017 05:08 PM

We are going to need BILLIONS an BILLIONS of these interceptors cause them things are not gotta intercept themselves!

red-beard 04-20-2017 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl (Post 9558734)
But changing its course by 0.0001 degree is very feasible. And that's all you need.

A nuclear weapon "might" change the course, but we will not control it. It would be mostly random. You could as easily put it on a path directly to Earth.

Crowbob 04-20-2017 07:11 PM

Asteroid smashteroid.

I'm more scared of that caldera under Yellowstone.

I'm still against calderas.

jyl 04-20-2017 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard (Post 9558826)
A nuclear weapon "might" change the course, but we will not control it. It would be mostly random. You could as easily put it on a path directly to Earth.

It would already be on a path directly to Earth, so any deviation is desirable.

KFC911 04-21-2017 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard (Post 9558433)
Here is the Asteroid Belt.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1492719864.jpg

Eros might swing into the edge, but it is a Mars Crossing Asteroid.

I'm thinkin' our ancestors should have selected s safer neighborhood....damn rock throwers ain't moving....can we relocate the earth instead?

nota 04-21-2017 05:47 AM

lots of free material to make space stations and starships eventually
with no need to get the materials out of the earth's gravity well
modify the orbits and park them for later use
or use them as a space bus to get near mars or other places
we will likely need fusion power to exploit them

nota 04-21-2017 05:54 AM

free stuff
once we figure out fusion power
we can intercept and park them
I just hope we do not get hit before
we can control them
as they are the key to huge space stations
and a space bus to mars and beyond
eventually slowboat star ships
short term threat but long term benefit


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