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Defending Earth From Asteroids With MADMEN
jolomo writes "A partner of Atlanta-based NASA Institute of Advanced Concepts is working on a concept they call MADMEN (Modular Asteroid Deflection Mission Ejector Nodes), which would launch a distributed attack against large Earth-bound objects. Thousands of MADMEN could be built by many nations and when launched, each would land on the object, drill into its surface and remove enough material to change its course."
Obviously a project named after the inventors.
Who read that as Defending the Earth From MADMEN with Asteroids?
So... like... a DDOS against a chunk of rock? ... heh. Imagine a Beo... nevermind.
Why, oh why, do they keep coming up with these silly "destory or deflect the asteroid" schemes? Such "inside the box" thinking.
When is someone going to focus on the important alternative: how about moving Earth out of the way instead?
John.
I can see it now
Russia: We pushed left, why didn't it change course?
USA: Why didn't you check first? we pushed right!
Only in Atlanta would an idea like, "Shoot it a bunch of times and see if it goes away" would such a solution be born.
Magic Eight Ball: Outlook not so good., Hmmm, how about Excel and Word?
I can see it now: "Yes, we're about to launch a large number of missiles armed with powerful explosives. All nuclear powers please remain calm. This is only a test. No, really, none of these will malfunction and visit death and destruction on somebody we're having a disagreement with. Honest."
In fact, a good sized asteriod could clear up a lot of this country's problems in a snap!
Look out congresswhores! Mama needs a new box a' cooties, and she is mad!
Why not use an Illudium Q36 Explosive Space Modulator?
Are you Corn Fed?
Actually you can do a similar experiment in a boat with a gun. If you shoot out the back of the boat enough times, the boat will move slightly forward. Shooting forward will make it move backward a little. If you shoot up in the air, the boat will move downward slightly before springing back from boyancy.
Once strange thing I've never been able to figure out though, is why shooting downward also makes the boat move downward?!
Slashdot Syndrome: the sudden, extreme urge to correct someone in order to validate one's self.
MADMEN diverts a disaster by knocking an asteroid off course.
2 years later, Aliens invade because we "attacked" their home planet with an asteroid.
That's a way to initiate first contact!
Honestly, I'd rather be incenerated by an asteroid collision than be dissected by thousands of Alien Hordes angry because we threw rocks at them.
Dude, when someone tells you to load 300 pounds of rocks into a boat and take it out on the lake he isn't trying to teach you something. He's trying trick you into spending a day moving 300 pounds of rocks and sinking your boat.
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