NASA aims to reduce asteroid threat

[Astro_Bot]

NASA is stepping up efforts to detect and plot asteroids that pose a risk to Earth: NASA aims to reduce asteroid threat (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/sci-tech/nasa-aims-to-reduce-asteroid-threat-20130619-2oisc.html)

NASA may also re-activate WISE to help in the asteroid survey.

Of particular interest:



Keep in mind that at no time has NASA mentioned employing a crew of oil drillers or Bruce Willis. :P

[Larryp]

No good without Bruce Willis:lol:

[mithrandir]

Does this mean there might be some funding for Rob McNaught?

[Astro_Bot]

Further to the above, NASA is indeed reactivating WISE:

NASA WISE telescope gets new life as asteroid hunter (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/sci-tech/nasa-wise-telescope-gets-new-life-as-asteroid-hunter-20130822-2scq1.html)

[Wavytone]

Detecting them is one thing.

Reducing the threat means being able to reduce the probability or the consequences of an impact - they're a long way from having any real way to do that yet.

In some ways I really wonder if it isn't better not to know about this.

[Astro_Bot]

True, but one thing's for certain: if it's not detected, one can't do anything about it. And it seems sensible to quantify the risk to then appropriately apportion resources toward risk reduction (or not, if the risk is acceptably low).

There have been a couple of creative suggestions for deflecting asteroids - I won't repeat them here - they're in online articles found easily enough. Better minds than mine will evaluate their usefulness.

[jjjnettie]

Gravitational tractors top the list on methods that NASA will use. If the asteroid is detected further enough out, it won't take much to change it's trajectory.

[multiweb]

With all the slug guns in QLD I reckon no rock stands a chance. :P