• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Russia may send spacecraft to knock away asteroid

Cardinal

Cardinal

Respected On All Sides
DP Veteran
Joined
Jun 20, 2008
Messages
106,654
Reaction score
98,536
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Independent
MOSCOW – Russia's space agency chief said Wednesday a spacecraft may be dispatched to knock a large asteroid off course and reduce the chances of earth impact, even though U.S. scientists say such a scenario is unlikely.

Anatoly Perminov told Golos Rossii radio the space agency would hold a meeting soon to assess a mission to Apophis. He said his agency might eventually invite NASA, the European Space Agency, the Chinese space agency and others to join the project.
Click to expand...

Russia may send spacecraft to knock away asteroid - Yahoo! News

I think what we all need to know is who the scruffy yet loveable oil riggers they're going to gather for the team are. I think it would be great if we forced Steve Buscemi to go up, as all the while he's screaming, "I...I'm an actor! I don't know anything about astrophysics or controlled detonations!"

NASA calculated the odds of the asteroid of hitting the earth as 250,000:1. With those odds on our side, should the Russians go up and possibly make things worse some how?
 
Cardinal said:
NASA calculated the odds of the asteroid of hitting the earth as 250,000:1. With those odds on our side, should the Russians go up and possibly make things worse some how?
Click to expand...

The odds of getting struck by lighting are 1 in 600,000 and yet that does seem to happen.

As far as astronomical events are concerned, that is really, really close.
 
CriticalThought said:
The odds of getting struck by lighting are 1 in 600,000 and yet that does seem to happen.

As far as astronomical events are concerned, that is really, really close.
Click to expand...
What's the frequency of lightnings?
Now what's the frequency of Asteroids around Earth?
 
Perhaps I'm reading too much into this, but knowing Russia this might turn into some scramble for gaining an upper-hand over others (read: US.)
 
Apocalypse said:
What's the frequency of lightnings?
Now what's the frequency of Asteroids around Earth?
Click to expand...

Good point. But I think when you are talking about a 250 meter wide rock hitting the earth, even a .0004% chance is less than comfortable.
 
CriticalThought said:
Good point. But I think when you are talking about a 250 meter wide rock hitting the earth, even a .0004% chance is less than comfortable.
Click to expand...

If they can move it, they can steer it, & that is scary....:shock:
 
CriticalThought said:
The odds of getting struck by lighting are 1 in 600,000 and yet that does seem to happen.

As far as astronomical events are concerned, that is really, really close.
Click to expand...
So you think the odds are comparable?
 
CriticalThought said:
Good point. But I think when you are talking about a 250 meter wide rock hitting the earth, even a .0004% chance is less than comfortable.
Click to expand...
How about all the ones that came closer that we never knew about? Are you prepared to put you life in the hands of a country that killed millions?
 
The odds will drop to zero as more measurements are taken. Still, if Russia is willing to spend the money, I'd support them. It would be useful to see the effectiveness of such a tactic in case something actually does happen with a different asteroid. I wouldn't support US efforts to do this, though.
 
Kernel Sanders said:
The odds will drop to zero as more measurements are taken. Still, if Russia is willing to spend the money, I'd support them. It would be useful to see the effectiveness of such a tactic in case something actually does happen with a different asteroid. I wouldn't support US efforts to do this, though.
Click to expand...

Sure. As long as they don't divert a "tiny chance" into a "sure thing."
 
I have been expecting this---what with all the disaster shows on TV. There have been and endless stream of Asteroid and comet Shows, depicting in graphic detail, the end of all living things. I wondered how long before we would be asked to pay for some type of "Save the Planet" type venture.---I say, let um hit--I got beers on ice. "The sky is fallin-the sky is fallin" :mrgreen:
 
What on earth has the capability of moving a 250 meter wide rock?
 
Harshaw said:
Sure. As long as they don't divert a "tiny chance" into a "sure thing."
Click to expand...

That is as unlikely as it is that the asteroid will hit in the first place. Even iff they do they could just hit it again.
 
The learning process for being able to divert asteroids is worth it, as we may end up having to do this for real at some point. I have no worries about the Russians intentions, as its not like they couldn't kill us all without asteroids. The most important thing is to check and re-check all calculations to insure we don't accidentally move it towards us.
 
Hatuey said:
What on earth has the capability of moving a 250 meter wide rock?
Click to expand...
I can see it happening, but what would happen on it's next orbit?? things are pretty much in sinc now. I'm not sure I would go tampereing with the workings of the universe. ---we don't have a good track record, when it comes to improving on Nature.
 
Hatuey said:
What on earth has the capability of moving a 250 meter wide rock?
Click to expand...

If they knock it off course by a few degrees or slow it by a few mph that over the course of a couple of decades would be enough to make it miss. Space is very big and earth is very small. Making things not hit earth is not all that difficult given sufficient warning. The downside is that if an extinction-level asteroid ever does hit earth while humans are alive the first sign we're going to get will likely be when it enters the atmosphere
 
Kernel Sanders said:
The odds will drop to zero as more measurements are taken. Still, if Russia is willing to spend the money, I'd support them. It would be useful to see the effectiveness of such a tactic in case something actually does happen with a different asteroid.
Click to expand...

I can go with this.


I wouldn't support US efforts to do this, though.
Click to expand...

Why not?
 
American said:
How about all the ones that came closer that we never knew about? Are you prepared to put you life in the hands of a country that killed millions?
Click to expand...

That would have been the Soviet Union, not the Federation of Russia.
 
Warspite said:
Kinetic Energy and the Laws of Motion are high school crap. :lol:
Click to expand...
Newton would be rolling in his grave right now if it wasn't for static friction.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom