Asteroid Mission Could Save the Planet

[Willie]

Read through this a minute ago. Some interesting, yet daunting shit. But, wtf are we doing really? The way I see it, if an asteroid is set to wipe out Earth, there's nothing we can do about it. This isn't the movie Armageddon, shit will hit the fan eventually. I don't get why we'd waste so much $$ to try and land on a fucking space rock.

President Barack Obama set a lofty next goal this week for Americans in space: Visiting an asteroid by 2025. But reaching a space rock in a mere 15 years is a daunting mission, and one that might also carry the ultimate safety of the planet on its shoulders.

"It is probably the hardest thing we can do because the asteroid is not coming on a schedule," NASA chief Charles Bolden told reporters late Thursday after Obama announced his space vision.

And when a specific asteroid is eventually selected, the window to launch a spaceship toward it will be much less forgiving than the windows for NASA space shuttles bound for the International Space Station, Bolden said.

"The space station gives us five minutes," he explained. "I'm not sure what an asteroid gives us, but then it doesn't come again for a lifetime."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20100416/ ... etheplanet" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JMU DJ]

"The space station gives us five minutes," he explained. "I'm not sure what an asteroid gives us, but then it doesn't come again for a lifetime."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20100416/ ... etheplanet" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We have enough trouble landing shit on Mars.... and we're going to hit an asteroid on the first try?


I thought Obama was cutting back on NASA? I guess Stephen Colbert DID save the space program.

[Skjellyfetti]

Obama's back on the ganj

[clenz]

So...say we land on the astroid. What the fuck happens to the people or the equipment that lands there. We never get it back (not unusual for equipment I realize), but do we risk that shit with people?



If it is equipment do we really have the technology to control shit like that from other fucking galaxies that fucking rock will end up at? If we do, why the fuck can't we make fucking RC model planes with a range of more than 300 fucking feet?

[JMU DJ]

So...say we land on the astroid. What the fuck happens to the people or the equipment that lands there. We never get it back (not unusual for equipment I realize), but do we risk that shit with people?



If it is equipment do we really have the technology to control shit like that from other fucking galaxies that fucking rock will end up at? If we do, why the fuck can't we make fucking RC model planes with a range of more than 300 fucking feet?

We're never getting back the equipment from the Moon or Mars either... the astronauts in the space program are aware of the dangers of going into space, they won't go out there without a plan to return... but I'm sure they also know they might not return.

Voyager is the furthest satellite from earth and is still transmitting data still. Chances are by the time an asteroid reaches another galaxy (if it makes it out of ours/escapes the gravitational pull of our Sun and system), we'll have been dead for a couple of millennia if not longer. Plus, I'm pretty sure the asteroid they will target would be orbiting the sun in the "asteroid belt."
http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Join the Military Clenz, you might be able to play with this RC plane.

[grizzaholic]

So...say we land on the astroid. What the fuck happens to the people or the equipment that lands there. We never get it back (not unusual for equipment I realize), but do we risk that shit with people?



If it is equipment do we really have the technology to control shit like that from other fucking galaxies that fucking rock will end up at? If we do, why the fuck can't we make fucking RC model planes with a range of more than 300 fucking feet?

If you want more range from RC, get off the battery powered and into engine powered.

[Willie]

We have enough trouble landing shit on Mars.... and we're going to hit an asteroid on the first try?

Exactly what I was thinking.

[death dealer]

This is exciting stuff. Although I would much rather see a mission to mars be more of a priority, this could yield some great stuff as well. Money and time well spent IMHO.


Much better investment than continuing to feed chronically dependent piss poor protoplasm. The technology to pull this off is going to be challenging, and the innovation/advancements that come out of the effort could be pretty incredible.