“Plans are being drawn up but we are still years away from technology testing space missions whose goal is to alter trajectories of Earth devastating asteroids.” www.space.com
Are we ready for an asteroid attack? Apparently not,
Yet the International Space station is on watch for any threats headed our way.
It is an imminent threat that asteroids will fall on the Earth's surface at one point or the other.
Whats' worse is how will we overcome its effects?
I for one don’t know much about an asteroid's makeup none the less its effects.
Its obvious that asteroids keep getting closer than we thought they would and I’m extremely worried after having watched this video.
http://www.space.com/common/media/video/player.php?videoRef=SP_090129_asteroid
If there’s anything that is happening now in our skies this is something I'm definitely keeping my eye on.
I think we need to think a little bit more on what we can do to prevent chaos!
Here are my questions to you the followers:
What do you think could possibly be done?
Does the U.S have a plan?
Will we be able to find ways of preparing now just in case something like this happens?
Will you be digging an underground shelter tonight? I know I might.
Let me know.. and feel free to post what’s on your mind on this topic.
And remember keep lookin up!
You might want to check out these videos too.
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First of all I know that asteroids are made of minerals and frozen water. so when it comes through the atmosphere the water burns off and the it breaks up into smaller pieces. These small piece do not make a large impact on the surface of the earth.
ReplyDeleteNow if we were to find a way to heat it before it would be smaller and take less time to break up in the atmosphere. Another thing is to think about how it travels by gravitational pull like that first video talks about. I don't know if we have these gravity tractor beams that he talks about but i m sure there is a way to counter act its movement.
As for the US having a plan, of course. the same plan for everything "Blow it up"
I think that if we put our minds to it we can prepare and survive, that is the nature of our species to survive.
I will not be digging anything but enjoying the sights of meter showers when they come.
Interesting point of view John,
ReplyDeleteI see that you’re on the positive side of this situation
It’s great to see how you have faith in our instincts of survival.
As for what’s being done on the matter, I do agree with the idea of attempting to counter act the trajectory of the asteroids if anything it’s our best bet.
As for enjoying a nice meteor shower, unless it is announced that there will be one during a situation like that, I will not stay around to watch. If you wish to find me, best place to look will be underground.
After reading this post last week, it really got my noggin thinking. After several conversations with my physics professor and an astronomer professor from San Diego State, I've been able to draw up my own conclusion about the proposed question, 'what do you think can be done?' Going off of what John said, I wanted to elaborate on a few things.
ReplyDeleteI've found through some research that comets, meteoroids and asteroids are a lot alike. A very interesting point to be made is that comets are composed of frozen water, gases and other materials. As they approach our solar system, the suns radiation causes the evaporation of the frozen particles that composes the comet. This process forms the tail of the comet. Once there is nothing more to be evaporated, it is considered to be an asteroid now.
There a several classifications for asteroids and they all correlate to its distance away from the sun and the materials it is made of. C-type asteroids are the most common to be seen because they are the closest to the sun and are carbonaceous (carbon based). S-type or L-types are further away and are composed of more metallic compounds.
Now going on about blowing an asteroid up is not a good resolution in my opinion. Like what Neil Tyson said, "we don't know where what we blow up will go". Oh and if I could ask Neil Tyson anything right now, it would be, if these so called "asteroid towers" could actually clinched to an asteroid, how are you so sure we'd change its path? I mean it would make more sense that the asteroid would change our path and it becomes a spaceship tower.
Now I believe the second video has the right idea. The biggest problem I would see, is to overcome the momentum of an asteroid. The definition is an impelling force or strength which can be seen as mass times velocity or speed. So basically momentum can be viewed as the force that drives the asteroid in its forward movement. An outside force is needed to break its momentum so the idea of using nuclear bombs to shift the path of the asteroid would work. It might take several bombs for this method to work but it definitely can solve the problem.
Eventually I can see a device with laser beams to disrupt the path of any moving object.
Interesting fact my physics professor told me, we have the technology to travel close to the speed of light in space but since there is so much debris in space we run the risk of colliding with it and destroying the craft. So they came up with the idea of a magnet deflector to push aside all debris in the way so there would be nothing in the way. The problem behind it, is that it requires so much energy that the spacecraft couldn't travel close to the speed of light and defeats the purpose. So if we can some how in the future harness this technology to created a magnetic net around our planet like an second atmosphere, then we would have nothing to worry about. (Sounds like something from Star Trek)
I want to thank Dr. Riley and Dr. Thurman for taking the time out to talk to me about this.
And thanks Vani for the post, it was definitely food for thought.
Cheezypoofs before I say thanks a million for that amazing response,
ReplyDeleteI want to give a special thanks to your professors Dr. Riley and Dr. Thurman for taking the time to answer all your questions and for your efforts in presenting such a well organized response to the situation I brought forth for discussion.
I’m particularly amazed at the way you describe the make up of an asteroid and how it can completely change upon its nearing to the Earth’s atmosphere.
I’m also glad you found the videos to be resourceful in your findings; in my opinion Neil is an amazing Astro- Physicist, and a wonderful vocal critic.
Now as for the idea I found the most intriguing from your response was the part where you mention:
“Some how the future will harness this technology to create a magnetic net around our planet like a second atmosphere, then we would have nothing to worry about.”
And then you say it “Sounds like something from Star Trek, but I think it’s a brilliant idea!
With the team of expert scientist we have working for the International Space Station, and the many research universities world wide,
With out a doubt anything is possible.
At the moment we are undergoing massive advancements in space technology, which makes me really excited to see what is to come!
Thanks for much once again for your response it is much appreciated and your enthusiasm as well as for the rest of my followers who keep inspiring me to keep bringing up current events happening in our sky.
But for now I give many thanks and as always keep looking up!