<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><BR><DIV><DIV>On Aug 10, 2005, at 10:04 AM, The Avantguardian wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">A carefully planned operation using very powerful</FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">chemical or nuclear rockets, solar sails, or even</FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">shaped nuclear charges could allow for two preferable</FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">scenarios to "minor deflection".</FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>As far as 'the easiest' goes - my understanding is that a proximity detonation of a nuclear device would allow the heated side of the object to become propulsion. Not only would the explosion work to nudge, but the remaining eminations from the side of the body facing the detonation could provide thrust for days as it cools.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">The first possibility is that we modify its trajectory</FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">such that we use the earth's gravity well to sling</FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">shot it into the moon. Thereby forever eliminating the</FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">threat from that particular asteroid.</FONT></P> </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><DIV>Hm. I like the sound of this and actually finding utility in these objects. I have a mathless thought to share however: A body on the Torino scale that has been judged worth of taking action against, is then sling-shotted around the Earth (requiring more than an approximation of its mass) and imparted enough energy to leave Earth's well again, but then strike the moon, which has 1/6g pull.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>How much of that final interaction would/could make it back to Earth? The impact would almost certainly have to end up on the side facing Earth, given the angles and the required assurance that we don't put the object in a ballistic orbit.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>yes? no?</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>]3</DIV></BODY></HTML>