Protecting Ourselves from Asteroids
Our work isn’t over when we find an asteroid heading in the direction of Earth.
We have many warning systems in place to tell us when an asteroid is heading in the direction of Earth. That isn’t enough to save us, we need a way to deflect it. There are multiple different ways to do this, kinetic impacts, a gravity tractor, an ion beam shepherd, using solar energy, a mass driver, and even conventional rockets with nukes strapped on.
Kinetic Impact
A kinetic impact involves sending a large ship into an asteroid to deflect its path. This mission would most likely be carried out with two separate ships. One a few months ahead would perform reconnaissance to measure the mass and velocity of the NEO. Once that is complete the second one would build up speed during this time, possibly using the other planets as a gravitational slingshot. It would come at an angle maximizing the difference in the velocity of the NEO and the ship and making sure it aligns with the center of mass. If the rocket doesn’t hit along the center of mass a lot of the energy will go into rotation and won’t move it off its path. [1]
Gravity Tractor
A gravity tractor would use gravity to pull a NEO out of the way. This would be done by using a high mass ship (most likely filled with space rocks) with a low power thruster. The thruster could keep it orbiting to one side of the NEO, which would pull it off course due to the gravitational attraction. This would be better than a head-on collision, because we can keep at it with the same ship until we are sure it is safe.
Other methods along these lines include using an electrostatic force between a ship and the asteroid. This force is a lot stronger than gravity, so it may be more effective. [2]
Ion Beam Shepherd
A beam of ions can be used to slowly push a NEO out of the way, from a distance. A ship capable of making a beam of ions need only be near Earth and in sight of the NEO to be effective. It would only need a thruster in the opposite direction of the beam, to keep it in place. It could get power in many ways, possibly even the sun. This means that it can be used as a more stable and long term solution. [3]
Lasers and the Sun
There are many methods of moving NEO using lasers and/or the sun. Electromagnetic radiation transferred momentum, which means it can be used to push something. A focused laser or large lens focusing light from the sun could heat a specific side of the NEO. That would also boil some gases, causing thrust.
Other methods include changing the thermal properties of the asteroid. This would most likely be achieved by painting it white or shading it. In some cases (especially longer-term ones) that might be enough to prevent a collision. [4]
Mass Driver
A mass driver uses electromagnets and a long tube to launch material. A mass driver is one of the more likely ways we can bring raw material from the moon back to Earth. It is fast, efficient, and runs on solar power. This means that it will be good for pushing NEO out of the way too. A tool could dig pieces off of a NEO and shoot them off in the mass driver. This would reduce the mass of it as it moved it. That means it will be more effective and if it somehow does manage to hit Earth, have less effect. Working models of this type have been made, but since we are not in any immediate need of pushing a NEO or mining on the moon, no more has been done with it. [5][6]
Nuclear Payloads
Often thought of as the last ditch effort, nuclear payloads pack a massive punch. The problem with this is that is must be delivered in a specific way under specific circumstances. If the NEO breaks apart that’s bad news. They will still hit Earth and transmit the same amount of energy, and will be even harder to stop. We also must make sure the majority of the energy is actually absorbed by the NEO. Unlike the massive explosions we are used to on Earth, the energy is mostly transferred by electromagnetic radiation. This would heat up the NEO, vaporizing pieces and throwing it off course. This doesn’t work on all asteroids, metallic ones are best and watery ones are the worst.
To maximise the use of the nuke, it must be detonated underground. Impacts fast enough to do that would disarm the nuke. The solution is a two part ship, one which rams ahead and the other which carries the payload into the crater. This can be up to 20 times as effective as a surface detonation.
Given only a few months or week warning time a nuclear payload will likely be our only hope. It will take a massive amount of resources compared to the other methods. [7]
Each of these will take a massive amount of resources, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Eventually we will have to invest in these, and we will save resources in the end by preparing.
great post mate...It just makes me wonder what is really out there?!
Great article. This is a VERY important topic as it is only a matter of time before we are faced with another potentially cataclysmic impact.
Happy there are people like you @dantethegreat who enjoy this topic. I believe that countries will be coming together to work on this as the necessary infrastructure and technologies are made available as part of the emerging ecosystems that will be built around asteroid mining companies. Which there will be more of in years ahead.
As these companies become profitable, they will provide the demand for Universities to research asteroids more, and educate new students on complementary topics. With the launch and technology infrastructure being built to support such missions, access to study asteroids and do other non-profit studies and operations around them will also become more feasible. So I'm an optimist that this will happen more or less on its own in the next ~10-30 years (which is the time I think it will take for companies like Planetary Resources and Deep Space Industries + new competitors, to really get going).
Anyways, working at the European Space Agency myself, I was saddened to see that our proposal to move ahead with the Asteroid Impact Mission AIM did not receive the neccessary support from our member countries. So it will have to wait a few years before Europe makes this a priority within its budgets.
Anyways, I'm happy to elaborate more on where we are today in achieving all of this, and what steps we will have to take, in a blog post myself. Having just posted my first introduction post on steemit I am looking very much forward to discuss these topics. And connect with people like yourself who are curious about it :) Followed you and hope to speak more with you!
Seems to me that the Ion Beam Shepherd, the Gravity Tractor, and Lasers are the most promising approaches. Key is early detection to be able to apply these technologies. I absolutely love this and related topics. Looking forward to reading your posts and discussing. Following you.
There's a Dome Firmament above Earth, Outer Space Is fiction, but the New World Order need to perpetuate this lie, so they can stage the Asteroid and Alien Invasion False Flags.
"christian"
there is no god. He was just made up to oppress you lmao
"hey you get to live forever so it doesn't matter if you spend your entire life working 15 hours a day for me"
I know, Jesus, Yeshua Is real he has guided me to the Truth and the Truth Is that this world Is a prison planet.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life, will lose It, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel I preach, he will save It. For what will It profit a man If he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul, but what will a man give In exchange for his soul.
get off my profile.
No Asteroids coming, space Is fiction, the NWO will just detonate a Nuke to simulate an Asteroid Impact.
Thanks for the article. Well organized!
Its like stopping yourself from being immunized
Always build bunkers too! :D
How do we deflect an approaching galaxy?
We will have 4 billion years to find out!
At least that is when the Andromeda Galaxy will collide with us, which is currently travelling towards us at roughly 110 kilometres per second. :p
I can't imagine "galaxy deflection" being a thing, but I guess you would have to make some alterations to the black hole at the centre of the galaxy which the stars in all galaxies we know of orbit around. That would require some energy levels that are quite far beyond my imagination at least :P
Cool to think about tho!
well I mean if we just push another galaxy into it
👍
no invest = no warning system =
Asteroids don't exist, but the New World Order Is planning an Asteroid False Flag.
Below Is the warning that, In 1974, Wernher Von Braun gave to Dr Carol Rosin, who at the time when he told her this she was a sixth grade school teacher.
"You will stop the weaponization of space"
she replied: "Teachers don't stop until June"
"He said you have to understand, we have to prevent the weaponization of space, because there Is a lie being told to everyone and the weaponization of space Is, first, being used against the evil empire, Russia, The Russians. There are many enemies, against whom, we are going to build these space based weapon systems. The first, of whom, Is the Russians." ( which was existing at that time ) "Then there would be terrorists, then there would be terrorists, then there would be terrorists, then there would be third world countries," ( now we call these rogue nations or nations of concern ) "then there would be asteroids," ( and then he repeated to her over and over again ) "and the last card, the last card, the last card, will be the extraterrestrial threat."