-
Asked by lwebb to Adam, Geoff, Rob, Sheila, Suzie on 23 Mar 2011 in Categories: Space.
-
Adam Tuff answered on 21 Mar 2011:
I think the only thing that would stop an asteroid would be literally fire a massive yield nuclear bomb at it – Even then it depends on the size of the asteroid – if it’s massive i.e. tens or hundreds of kilometers wide, we’re pretty much done for. Luckily for us, Earth’s pretty small and a moving target – it’s highly unlikely one will hit us that will wipe out civilisation!
-
-
Suzie Sheehy answered on 21 Mar 2011:
That’s a good question. If we knew about it far enough in advance, I’ve always wondered if we’d send a spaceship there and try to blow it up like in Armageddon. To be honest I don’t know – but I hope someone somewhere has a plan!!
-
Sheila Kanani answered on 22 Mar 2011:
The best thing we could do is to nudge it slightly so it travels off course. If we blew it up we might make it worse!
-
Robert Simpson answered on 23 Mar 2011:
Well, not a lot to be honest. Wouldn’t try and blow it up because that would possible mean that we ended up with two or more slightly smaller asteroid heading for the Earth instead. If it was far enough away then w could go and attach a big rock to it and let it slowly move out of the way of the Earth. We;d need a fairly long run up since getting there and doing this would be the hardest thing humanity had ever done. I think its possible though, and its one of the reason to keep exploring space and pushing out limits with trips to he Moon, Mars and beyond.
Comments
Sheila commented on :
Adam and Suzie, please don’t blow it up! That would create loads of little asteroids which could all cause harm! 😀 We just need to nudge it ever so slightly to make it change its orbit.
And yes, there are people tracking NEOs (near Earth objects) every single day and they have a direct line to the PM in case something scary is spotted 😀
Suzie commented on :
awww… but I LIKE blowing things up. Please? Pretty please?