[ExI] Asteroid on track for possible Mars hit

[Stefano Vaj]

On Dec 23, 2007 6:13 PM, spike <spike66 at att.net> wrote:
> So that means exploding the device, (which needs to be truly enormous) as
> the object and the nuke pass at very high speeds.  What I don't know is how
> much time it takes for a nuclear explosion to develop, or to convert most of
> the energy from the fusion device into photons.  Is anyone here up to speed
> on that, or know how to estimate it?  Does that reaction develop in a
> millisecond?  10?

What about instead a massive, non-explosive payload hitting the rock
at the maximum speed a huge Orion vehicle may be able to attain in the
available time?

The deflection potential would seem much higher, as in some 3000
explosions against one or two...

Stefano Vaj