[extropy-chat] NEO deflection

[The Avantguardian]

--- David Lubkin <extropy at unreasonable.com> wrote:

> Long, but clearly an extropian concern. Past issues
> are in the archives 
> (see end); this one isn't there yet.

Yes. I think that by treating this asteroid seriously
despite its low odds of impact, we will gain practice
in dealing with what will be a constant long term
threat to our survival. 

>  Because both the
> needed velocity change 
> >and the mass of Apophis are small, the needed
> impulse (change in momentum) 
> >is so small that deflection can be done simply by
> ramming the asteroid 
> >with the spacecraft, and such a deflection by
> impact is the easiest 
> >deflection method.

It may be the easiest deflection method but not the
best. Actually making a rendevous with a space-tug
type craft perhaps with deployment of a solar sail
would serve several purposes and have more long term
value: 

1. It would force more emphasis on the development of
technology to prevent future impacts.
2. It would allow for more precise control of the
orbital shift and allow other options than "minor
deflection".
3. It would allow for a second chance in the event of
an unforeseen complications, i.e. surface is more
fragile than thought.
4. Recovery of the space craft would save on long term
costs.
5. A minor deflection might only serve to put off the
eventuality of another potential impact by the same
asteroid in future decades.

A carefully planned operation using very powerful
chemical or nuclear rockets, solar sails, or even
shaped nuclear charges could allow for two preferable
scenarios to "minor deflection".

The first possibility is that we modify its trajectory
such that we use the earth's gravity well to sling
shot it into the moon. Thereby forever eliminating the
threat from that particular asteroid.

The second, if we are feeling confident, is to park
the asteroid in earth orbit and use it as a raw
material source and orbital platform for the
construction of a space elevator or a large
non-landing spacecraft for manned expeditions to the
other planets. We can drill it and set nuclear charges
in it to "scuttle" it, in the event that its orbit
starts to decay although we should also have a
contigency plan to time this with a temporary
world-wide shutdown of the power grid to avoid EMP
damage.

I have always found it encouraging that the Japanese
use the same word for "crisis" and "opportunity". 
  

The Avantguardian 
is 
Stuart LaForge
alt email: stuart"AT"ucla.edu

"The surest sign of intelligent life in the universe is that they haven't attempted to contact us." 
-Bill Watterson


		
____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs