Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 11 to 17 of 17

Thread: NASA tests planetary defense system 👽🌏🪐💫

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    33,886
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by georgeib View Post
    I think maybe I lack imagination, because although I see this as a very cool proof of concept academic exercise, I don't see this ever practically working. Any asteroid or comet of sufficient mass to pose a threat to life on Earth, will not be dissuaded so easily. I'm not a physicist, but I do know how to do basic math, and it seems to me that the amount of mass or force necessary to significantly alter a massive object's path is going to be much more than we can muster.

    In my mind, it's not that we are limited by current technology, per se, rather that the laws of physics and our ability to bring enough mass to bear are the limiting factors. I can't help but compare us to a moth trying to alter the trajectory of a fully loaded 18 wheeler traveling at 100 mph by smashing itself into the windshield. In theory, that moth's mass DID alter that truck's trajectory, but in reality it may as well not have for all the difference it would make.

    The big take away from the video seems to be that they can actually hit the asteroid at all. In itself an amazing accomplishment. Very cool.
    They will need to incorporate a payload to even begin to address threats, this was just a dry run.

    Right now the biggest known risk is 99942 Apophis which in 2006 was seen as possibly on target for a direct impact on April 13, 2036 and yes that is a Friday. It has since been revised and there was an earlier date of concern for April 13, 2029 which is not currently believed to be a threat but this one could easily be a problem in the immediate future even though a direct impact has been ruled out by the JPL.

    We have had more than a few close ones that passed within half the distance to the moon, thankfully most of them have been pretty small compared to the ones we worry about. Asteroid 2012 DA14 flew by very close in 2013.
    It's hard to be a ACLU hating, philosophically Libertarian, socially liberal, fiscally conservative, scientifically grounded, agnostic, porn admiring gun owner who believes in self determination.

    Chuck, we miss ya man.

    كافر

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Republic of Texas
    Posts
    1,022
    Feedback Score
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by rero360 View Post
    Attaching a small ion drive to it would also work given enough time.
    Exactly many methods of dealing with such things, if we pay proper attention. I am for capturing all neos (near earth objects) and making them follow the earth for future capture and mining. That is if we want to be forward thinking.
    Member of the JPFO, NRA, and TSRA!

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    2,513
    Feedback Score
    82 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by WillBrink View Post
    Good summary by the BBC of small proof of concept test for dealing with future large objects that will come our way:



    Their theories are nice and cool. Until they **** up and actually do the opposite of what they’re trying to prevent.

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    21,836
    Feedback Score
    5 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by davidjinks View Post
    Their theories are nice and cool. Until they **** up and actually do the opposite of what they’re trying to prevent.
    That's what testing is for, and the other option, which is do nothing, is not an option at all. This is something we should have been developing a long time ago.
    - Will

    General Performance/Fitness Advice for all

    www.BrinkZone.com

    LE/Mil specific info:

    https://brinkzone.com/category/swatleomilitary/

    “Those who do not view armed self defense as a basic human right, ignore the mass graves of those who died on their knees at the hands of tyrants.”

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    2,513
    Feedback Score
    82 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by WillBrink View Post
    That's what testing is for, and the other option, which is do nothing, is not an option at all. This is something we should have been developing a long time ago.
    I don’t necessarily disagree with you. I think some things are very important. However, if there is one thing I have learned just from being in the career field I’m in now, the smart ones (ones I call super nerds) lack the basic common sense and it usually bites them in the ass 99% of the time.

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    33,886
    Feedback Score
    3 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by WillBrink View Post
    That's what testing is for, and the other option, which is do nothing, is not an option at all. This is something we should have been developing a long time ago.
    Given the state of our space program last 20 years, I don't know that we could have accomplished even this had we tried.
    It's hard to be a ACLU hating, philosophically Libertarian, socially liberal, fiscally conservative, scientifically grounded, agnostic, porn admiring gun owner who believes in self determination.

    Chuck, we miss ya man.

    كافر

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Posts
    9,529
    Feedback Score
    45 (100%)
    Quote Originally Posted by davidjinks View Post
    Their theories are nice and cool. Until they **** up and actually do the opposite of what they’re trying to prevent.
    Which is why, I suspect, they hit the smaller one that is orbiting the larger one. This is just an early step, got to start somewhere.
    Gettin' down innagrass.
    Let's Go Brandon!

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •