This is my absolute favorite story of the day. I guess they got that whole shuttle-blowing-up-on-take-off thing worked out.
Nasa now plans to go where only Bruce Willis has gone before. The US space agency is drawing up plans to land an astronaut on an asteroid hurtling through space at more than 30,000 mph. It wants to know whether humans could master techniques needed to deflect such a doomsday object when it is eventually identified.
The proposals are at an early stage, and a spacecraft needed just to send an astronaut that far into space exists only on the drawing board, but they are deadly serious. A smallish asteroid called Apophis has already been identified as a possible threat to Earth in 2036.
Chris McKay of the Nasa Johnson Space Centre in Houston told the website Space.com: "There's a lot of public resonance with the notion that Nasa ought to be doing something about killer asteroids ... to be able to send serious equipment to an asteroid.
Personally I’m more concerned about killer tomatoes, but I digress…
"The public wants us to have mastered the problem of dealing with asteroids. So being able to have astronauts go out there and sort of poke one with a stick would be scientifically valuable as well as demonstrate human capabilities."
Really? Is that really what we want? Well I know I was telling Clint just the other day how I wished NASA would get on the ball and start spending billions of dollars to go poke an asteroid with a stick, but that’s just me. I’m the queen of poking things with a stick (ask me about the armadillo and the tarantula some day).
Read on...
13 comments:
Funny you should say that, since what if some aliens were actively involved in pushing the asteroids into the earth? How amny could we deal with then if they kept on doing it?
You Too can be a Hero
I saw this video of some aliens blackmailing by doing that to get the precious metals to fix their ship. It sounded like a good idea to help out by contributing to gather enough up to stop them from doing that before a disaster occured.
Wait a minute. You write off a 911 conspiracy as impossible conjecture and theory, but…oh never mind. I’ll play along.
How many asteroids could we deal with if aliens kept pushing them towards earth? Exactly one. One strategically place asteroid the size of a Toyota and we’d be toast. Then the aliens would swoop down, deplete the earth of all its natural resources, become Republicans, run for office, and rule the world!
Hey wait a minute...
The difference is the Republicans were fearmongering to divide people and only benefit themselves.
Wouldn't you think that a looming threat of global disaster like that would unite all the people to benefit everyone over a common danger? With the proceeds going to a lot more worthy cause.
That's basically the situation with global warming right? In this case the threat is a lot more easily shown and more immediate.
Plus getting t-shirts, mugs, hats and clock is a lot more to show than what the Repulicans have spent on Iraq. Calenders and thongs are a lot more tangible than the illusion of security than they have promised.
“Wouldn't you think that a looming threat of global disaster like that would unite all the people to benefit everyone over a common danger?”
In a word, no. I think when (notice I said when and not if) there is a global disaster, I think it will be survival of the fittest. Society has done nothing to lead me to believe that after a disaster of cataclysmic proportions, we will all hold hands and sing Kum-bi-yah. Sad as it is, I believe it will be every man for himself.
You mentioned global warming as an example. Seen any fewer SUV’s on the road lately?
Society is selfish. A disaster would only amplify this inherent, animalistic instinct to survive.
And as for clocks, mugs, t-shirts, and thongs...Argon my friend, I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about! lol
I agree isn't there so much more..
Over from the other Michele's.
Before we spend billions trying to poke an Asteroid could we maybe solve some of the problems right here in The United States...like Poverty and Education and Health Care....PLEASE!
makes you wonder if the whole man on the moon deal really happened or perhaps another NASA/Hollywood collaboration. heh heh
Well how about if I said that someone was going to eat a bunny named Toby for Thanksgiving dinner? Would that be a cause that was more worthy to stop than an asteroid hitting the earth?
I guess it never pays to underestimate the selfishness, cynicism or stupidity of the masses since they'd rather focus on their immediate gratification than any long term solutions that would get them out of this mess until it's way too late to solve it.
Think of it as evolution in action and the dinosaurs would probably say "Those that don't learn from the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it"
“It never pays to underestimate…”
When I read that, my immediate thought was the lead-up to the Iraq war. As far as Toby goes, personally I wouldn’t care, but you’d probably have PETA protesting in your driveway.
Actually, when given some thought, people would most likely band together to stop an asteroid. But after it hit, it would be every man for himself.
"Those that don't learn from the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it"
Iraq War = Vietnam
Darfur = Rwanda = Holocaust = Plight of the American Indians
Bush = McCarthy = Hitler
This country is comprised of short-bus riders. We repeat history on a daily basis.
Bush + Dick = Screwed
I volunteer the Congress, the Senate, and the President & VP & cohorts for this mission.
Let's hope the best meteor wins.
Bush would probably volunteer, as long as he was allowed to wear the cool flight suit!
Then I suppose Robert Malthus was right since the methods to escape his predictions aren't being used and the only thing we have to look forward is when the next species that does learn takes over to replace us right?
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