Why Don't We Have An Asteroid Interceptor?

[jyl]

A very large asteroid will pass close to the earth. It was discovered only 3 years ago.

https://phys.org/news/2017-04-large-asteroid-hurtle-earth-april.html

Had it been on course to strike the earth, it is uncertain if we could have stopped it in time.

Earth Unprepared for Surprise Asteroid Strike, NASA Scientist Says : News : Nature World News

A mission to develop asteroid re-direction techniques was recently killed.

https://thespacereporter.com/2017/04/asteroid-redirect-mission-put-hold/

It is puzzling to me why the USA hasn't developed an asteroid interceptor.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I'm not worried; we have Bruce Willis!

[GH85Carrera]

It is pretty much beyond our technology to have one that would be useful.

It is like spending money on something that has very low odds. And of course as usual, it would be the USA paying for it and the entire planet gets the protection for free.

[mjohnson]

Some have proposed repurposing the H-bomb parts of a few retired US weapon systems. One or two have performance suited to nudging an asteroid.

Of course we'll need a group of retired astronauts and nuc weapons experts to run the show...

[GH85Carrera]

I believe there is a UN treaty to never send nukes into space. If would be real easy to re-direct down and save that launch time warning. A bad launch would be a real disaster.

And blowing up an asteroid just makes lots more deadly asteroids to hit more areas.

There are some clever ideas on how to avoid a asteroid strike, but we will need a LOT of lead time.

[BReif61]

What are the odds of an asteroid actually hitting the Earth? What are the odds of us hitting it with something to in order to deflect it, and the asteroid then breaking apart and the Earth then getting hit by multiple objects?

If I had to venture a guess why, it would be the high cost/low probability argument.

[asphaltgambler]

How about repurposing a police interceptor?

[RKDinOKC]

Not enough science fiction for enough people to think we could actually deflect an asteroid.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by BReif61

What are the odds of an asteroid actually hitting the Earth? .....

Extremely high I would venture....give it time. It's only been 64 million years since the last big one...but it's certainly not the last one. Humans....we don't matter....as inconsequential as T-rex fwiw. I sleep well at night however

[Gogar]

i for one welcome our cosmic overlord as long as i'm right under it

[Alfasrule]

I bet we do, but just don't know it? Top Secret?
As far as a BIG asteroid hitting us pretty slim chance. We'll be warned.
But everyday we get hit by them and Mother Earth Protects us, for the time being.
Maybe someday she'll open her doors and get rid of the disease. Humans

[sammyg2]

[nota]

Originally Posted by KC911

Extremely high I would venture....give it time. It's only been 64 million years since the last big one...but it's certainly not the last one. Humans....we don't matter....as inconsequential as T-rex fwiw. I sleep well at night however

some speculation the most recent big one
maybe wiped out the american mega-cridders
about 12,900 years ago at the Younger Dryas beginning

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by jyl

A mission to develop asteroid re-direction techniques was recently killed.

https://thespacereporter.com/2017/04/asteroid-redirect-mission-put-hold/

It is puzzling to me why the USA hasn't developed an asteroid interceptor.

The big five mass extinctions
https://cosmosmagazine.com/palaeontology/big-five-extinctions

I don't see how saving the Earth is political, but somehow it just became so.

Biologists suspect we’re living through the sixth major mass extinction. Earth has witnessed five, when more than 75% of species disappeared. Palaeontologists spot them when species go missing from the global fossil record, including the iconic specimens shown here. “We don’t always know what caused them but most had something to do with rapid climate change”, says Melbourne Museum palaeontologist Rolf Schmidt.

I'd spend an extra $10 a year in taxes if it meant protecting us from extinction.

[MBAtarga]

Just offer a government subsidy program for the development of a system and Elon Musk will be all over it!

[rusnak]

I run away from Earth-crossing asteroids. Or was it cross, earthy women on steroids?

[pete3799]

I've spent many quarters, back in the day, blasting asteroids.
I'm sure they'll PM me if the time comes.

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by kach22i

The big five mass extinctions
https://cosmosmagazine.com/palaeontology/big-five-extinctions

I don't see how saving the Earth is political, but somehow it just became so.



I'd spend an extra $10 a year in taxes if it meant protecting us from extinction.

Me too! We could call it the . .. . "National Space Agency" or something. Or "National Airplanes and Spaceships Admistration." I feel like I'm close. . . . hmmmmm.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Me too! We could call it the . .. . "National Space Agency" or something. Or "National Airplanes and Spaceships Admistration." I feel like I'm close. . . . hmmmmm.

Article said 19.5 billion budget but short 1.4 billion for the asteroid stuff - I think.

Also might be some diversion of funds from the asteroid thing to the manned Mars thing.

Not sure what the article really meant, going to take a few more quarters.

[Nickshu]

Wasn't there a movie about that?