Air Bags for Planetary Defense

Gallowglass writes "The Canadian paper, the National Post, is reporting on a plan to divert asteroids headed towards Earth. According to the story, the proposer, a Dr. Hermann Burchard, suggests deploying an inflatable mylar bag a few kilometers in size, and using it to push the projectile aside. An air bag for earth? The deployment mechanism isn't detailed in the story."

Comments

flame me all you want, but

[lingqi]

That is really, really dumb!

right up there with the "wrap the asteroid in reflective material so that the solar wind will surely push it to a safe distance.

i mean, just a FEW considerations here:

* asteroid comming in will be damn hot, burn-through bag
* inflation rate
* leakage?
* where you planning on putting it, if a metropolis like NYC, if it was gonna be hit?
* make it out of what?
* transport it how?

that's it; if this is the best our scientists can come up with; i am starting to dig my hole and buying canned soup.