Asteroid on collision path with Earth

~~RedDebil~~ · 02-20-2007, 03:47 AM

Asteroid on collision path with Earth
Email this storyPrint this story 7:25AM Tuesday February 20, 2007
By David Usborne

The United Nations will shortly be asked to take on a new and unfamiliar mission - to save the Earth, not from drought, war or disease, but from the cataclysm that could occur following a direct hit by an asteroid.

A group of former astronauts and cosmonauts is warning that at least one asteroid already identified in outer space is on a path that could indeed see it colliding with our planet in 2036.

They say work should begin now on considering a strategy to protect humankind from this and other asteroids.

Specifically, members of the Association of Space Explorers are planning a series of meetings over the next two years, to be attended by diplomats, astronomers, astronauts and engineers, to draft an international treaty on address the threat.

It will be presented to the UN for adoption in 2009.

"You have to act when things look like they are going to happen - if you wait until you know for certain, it's too late," Dr Russell Schweickart, an Apollo 9 astronaut, told a conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco.

"We believe there needs to be a decision process spelled out and adopted by the United Nations." The United States Congress recently instructed Nasa to increase its efforts to identify asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth.

As of now, the agency is monitoring the paths of 127 so-called near-Earth objects (NEO) that have the possibility of striking the planet.

Among prominent figures who have been asked to participate in drafting a UN treaty are Lord Rees, the English Astronomer Royal as well as Roger Bonnet, the ex-director of science at the European Space Agency and the former British ambassador the UN, Sir Crispin Tickell.

Underscoring the peril, an asteroid named Apophis risks passing very close to Earth on 13 April, 2036.

Astronomers warn that as of now, there is a 1 in 45,000 chance of a direct hit.

Its impact would be enough to wipe out a country as large as England.

Debate over how best to deflect any asteroid headed to our planet echoes the science-fiction scripts of Hollywood films like 'Armageddon', which precisely told the story of an asteroid and the derring-do of astronauts sent on a mission to destroy it before it reached Earth's atmosphere.

Dr Edward Lu told the conference that notions of smashing asteroids before they reach Earth are risky.

"There is a random element to them," he said.

"Things like hitting them with a bomb or flying a spacecraft into them - you just do not know what the results of that are going to be." Scientists now favour deploying so-called 'Gravity Tractors', small spacecrafts that would travel close to a speeding asteroid and, with their own gravitational pull, try to drag it onto a different path.

~~RedDebil~~ · 02-20-2007, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semi

source?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=5&objectid=10424822

~~coheneran~~ · 02-20-2007, 04:05 AM

This has happened before. When I was 6 I was convinced we were all gonna die from an asteroid on collision course with the Earth. In the end it turns out that the gravity from various planets and the sun nearby is much stronger than the Earth's gravity, so it gets pulled off-course. Or something like that.

Dinosawesome · 02-20-2007, 04:12 AM

Wow because I haven't read one of these articles 10,000 times.

1 in 45,000 aren't great odds. You have a greater chance of dying crossing a road.

~~coheneran~~ · 02-20-2007, 04:17 AM

I don't see how they could even work out that probability. They can't know of all of the asteroids in the asteroid belt, let alone the solar system, let alone our part of the galaxy.

~~RedDebil~~ · 02-20-2007, 04:23 AM

The point is, even on the most remote chance of an asteroid hitting the earth, without any type of contingency plan, millions of people will die instantly.
Better to be safe than sorry. Although if a giant asteroid is on a collision course with earth, not much we could actually do.

~~coheneran~~ · 02-20-2007, 04:35 AM

Well, we can't, but Bruce Willis can.

Even on the remote chance of a war with Iran, without any contingency plan, millions of people will die instantly. Or slowly of painful radiation-related diseases.

Only Arabs of course.

Dinosawesome · 02-20-2007, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedDebil

The point is, even on the most remote chance of an asteroid hitting the earth, without any type of contingency plan, millions of people will die instantly.
Better to be safe than sorry. Although if a giant asteroid is on a collision course with earth, not much we could actually do.

The point is that you're a fag.

~~coheneran~~ · 02-20-2007, 04:51 AM

Not really...

Grohlthegreat · 02-20-2007, 04:51 AM

There's at least 20 of these every month.

~~RedDebil~~ · 02-20-2007, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nath

The point is that you're a fag.

You not in the pit now cutie,behave,lol

Dinosawesome · 02-20-2007, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedDebil

You not in the pit now cutie,behave,lol

Yes but you must agree that regardless of what forum we are in, you are a fag. Right?

~~RedDebil~~ · 02-20-2007, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grohlthegreat

There's at least 20 of these every month.

That's true, they always tell you about the near misses in astronomical terms, which is millions of miles, so we just have to wait until one of those rogue asteroids is almost upon us before we send up Bruce Willis.

funkyhoney · 02-20-2007, 04:56 AM

how many asteroids that have cause cataclysmic damage have ever hit the earth?

imo, it's because we can see them flying around with telescopes now, so the paranoia hits the roof.

ringworm · 02-20-2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkyhoney

how many asteroids that have cause cataclysmic damage have ever hit the earth?

quite a few actually, we just werent here

~~coheneran~~ · 02-20-2007, 07:55 AM

Allegedly.

RouteOne · 02-20-2007, 08:44 AM

If it hits us it hits us. Not much we can do about it beyond deflecting its flight path.

ringworm · 02-20-2007, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coheneran

Allegedly.

http://www.unb.ca/passc/ImpactDatabase/NorthAmerica.html

http://www.unb.ca/passc/ImpactDatabase/africa.html

http://www.unb.ca/passc/ImpactDatabase/europe.html

http://www.unb.ca/passc/ImpactDatabase/austr.html

http://www.unb.ca/passc/ImpactDatabase/SAm.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=safari&rls=en&q=recent+impact+craters+earth&btnG=Search

~~coheneran~~ · 02-20-2007, 09:06 AM

I said allegedly about us not having been there.

Maybe we were there, but couldn't bear witness to it on account of death.

ringworm · 02-20-2007, 09:17 AM

lol, ok, gotcha & i agree

02-20-2007, 03:47 AM	#1
~~RedDebil~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In yer Brain Posts: 124	Asteroid on collision path with Earth Asteroid on collision path with Earth Email this storyPrint this story 7:25AM Tuesday February 20, 2007 By David Usborne The United Nations will shortly be asked to take on a new and unfamiliar mission - to save the Earth, not from drought, war or disease, but from the cataclysm that could occur following a direct hit by an asteroid. A group of former astronauts and cosmonauts is warning that at least one asteroid already identified in outer space is on a path that could indeed see it colliding with our planet in 2036. They say work should begin now on considering a strategy to protect humankind from this and other asteroids. Specifically, members of the Association of Space Explorers are planning a series of meetings over the next two years, to be attended by diplomats, astronomers, astronauts and engineers, to draft an international treaty on address the threat. It will be presented to the UN for adoption in 2009. "You have to act when things look like they are going to happen - if you wait until you know for certain, it's too late," Dr Russell Schweickart, an Apollo 9 astronaut, told a conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco. "We believe there needs to be a decision process spelled out and adopted by the United Nations." The United States Congress recently instructed Nasa to increase its efforts to identify asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth. As of now, the agency is monitoring the paths of 127 so-called near-Earth objects (NEO) that have the possibility of striking the planet. Among prominent figures who have been asked to participate in drafting a UN treaty are Lord Rees, the English Astronomer Royal as well as Roger Bonnet, the ex-director of science at the European Space Agency and the former British ambassador the UN, Sir Crispin Tickell. Underscoring the peril, an asteroid named Apophis risks passing very close to Earth on 13 April, 2036. Astronomers warn that as of now, there is a 1 in 45,000 chance of a direct hit. Its impact would be enough to wipe out a country as large as England. Debate over how best to deflect any asteroid headed to our planet echoes the science-fiction scripts of Hollywood films like 'Armageddon', which precisely told the story of an asteroid and the derring-do of astronauts sent on a mission to destroy it before it reached Earth's atmosphere. Dr Edward Lu told the conference that notions of smashing asteroids before they reach Earth are risky. "There is a random element to them," he said. "Things like hitting them with a bomb or flying a spacecraft into them - you just do not know what the results of that are going to be." Scientists now favour deploying so-called 'Gravity Tractors', small spacecrafts that would travel close to a speeding asteroid and, with their own gravitational pull, try to drag it onto a different path.

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02-20-2007, 04:05 AM	#3
~~coheneran~~ Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the company of the aggrieved Posts: 8,805	This has happened before. When I was 6 I was convinced we were all gonna die from an asteroid on collision course with the Earth. In the end it turns out that the gravity from various planets and the sun nearby is much stronger than the Earth's gravity, so it gets pulled off-course. Or something like that.

02-20-2007, 04:12 AM	#4
Dinosawesome Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 30,403	Wow because I haven't read one of these articles 10,000 times. 1 in 45,000 aren't great odds. You have a greater chance of dying crossing a road.

02-20-2007, 04:17 AM	#5
~~coheneran~~ Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the company of the aggrieved Posts: 8,805	I don't see how they could even work out that probability. They can't know of all of the asteroids in the asteroid belt, let alone the solar system, let alone our part of the galaxy.

02-20-2007, 04:23 AM	#6
~~RedDebil~~ Banned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In yer Brain Posts: 124	The point is, even on the most remote chance of an asteroid hitting the earth, without any type of contingency plan, millions of people will die instantly. Better to be safe than sorry. Although if a giant asteroid is on a collision course with earth, not much we could actually do.

02-20-2007, 04:35 AM	#7
~~coheneran~~ Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the company of the aggrieved Posts: 8,805	Well, we can't, but Bruce Willis can. Even on the remote chance of a war with Iran, without any contingency plan, millions of people will die instantly. Or slowly of painful radiation-related diseases. Only Arabs of course.

02-20-2007, 04:51 AM	#9
~~coheneran~~ Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the company of the aggrieved Posts: 8,805	Not really...

02-20-2007, 04:51 AM	#10
Grohlthegreat like a moth, in a bath. Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 1,369	There's at least 20 of these every month.

02-20-2007, 04:56 AM	#14
funkyhoney Medicated For Your Safety Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Australia, Brisbane Arrests: 11 Posts: 12,162	how many asteroids that have cause cataclysmic damage have ever hit the earth? imo, it's because we can see them flying around with telescopes now, so the paranoia hits the roof.

02-20-2007, 07:55 AM	#16
~~coheneran~~ Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the company of the aggrieved Posts: 8,805	Allegedly.

02-20-2007, 08:44 AM	#17
RouteOne Gnarly till the end Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: New York Posts: 78,540	If it hits us it hits us. Not much we can do about it beyond deflecting its flight path.

02-20-2007, 09:06 AM	#19
~~coheneran~~ Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In the company of the aggrieved Posts: 8,805	I said allegedly about us not having been there. Maybe we were there, but couldn't bear witness to it on account of death.

02-20-2007, 09:17 AM	#20
ringworm Say NO to… Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Offshore Drilling Posts: 4,707	lol, ok, gotcha & i agree