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ESA Selects Targets for Asteroid Deflection Test

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the these-aren't-your-grandfather's-windmills dept.

Vandil X writes "The European Space Agency has announced that it has selected two candidate asteroid targets for a planned mission to impact an asteroid in an attempt to deflect the asteroid off course by a measurable amount. The mission, dubbed "Don Quijote," will send two spacecraft to their final choice asteroid. One craft will impact the asteroid while the other will observe the asteroid before and after the collision. The mission craft and target selection are expected to be finalized sometime in 2007."

15 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. Sweet mercy by casio282 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I hope Bruce Willis in onboard.

    --

    :wq
    1. Re:Sweet mercy by raider_red · · Score: 5, Funny

      Good call, but let's leave Ben Affleck on the asteroid this time.

      --
      It's good to use your head, but not as a battering ram.
  2. The public will get to view the event by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... but can only watch it in black and white vector graphics, and have to pay $0.25 to view it.

  3. Artist's conceptions of spacecraft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...are located here. Looks kind of odd.

  4. Dateline 27 September 2159 by DavidRawling · · Score: 5, Funny

    In other news, the asteroid deflected in 2008 by the European Space Agency has been confirmed as hitting Earth in December this year, with an expected impact point near Switzerland.

    It's been nice knowing you folks.

  5. But what about.... by zappepcs · · Score: 4, Funny

    my horoscope... this could immeasurably ruin my life!! Don't these insensitive rock-et science clods know they could end up making it so I never meet a woman?

    --
    Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
  6. Re:What happens... by MyLongNickName · · Score: 4, Funny

    We all die.

    Seriously, though. If you read the article, you would know that they picked an asteroid that will never cross the earth's path (more than 1AU from sun at all times). The tiny nudge would be like hitting Pavorati with a spit ball. Not nearly enough to make it an earth killer.

    --
    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
  7. In case of slashdotting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    The two target candidates are:

    1. 2002 AT4
    2. France

  8. Re:Something wrong with p? by LordRPI · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, unfortunately there is something wrong with that equation. It does not take into account of the direction of which the asteroid will be deflected. Although I hope that the mathematics used to base the "crash" on would be calculated so that it does not shift the objects into a collision course with Earth. Knowing us, some organization will use British units, one will use Metric.

  9. Re:Crash? by Dirtside · · Score: 4, Funny
    I would think something like white paint (using the reflective properties to move the asteroid) would be more interesting.
    Ladies and gentlemen, we have here a person who literally thinks that watching paint dry is more interesting than watching an explosion. Sir, I wish you good luck in finding a circus capable of handling your freakishness.
    --
    "Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
  10. Re:Crash? by MyLongNickName · · Score: 5, Funny

    ir, I wish you good luck in finding a circus capable of handling your freakishness.

    I have. It is called "Slashdot".

    --
    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
  11. OOPS by Brad1138 · · Score: 5, Funny

    What we don't want to hear after a successful deflection....

    --
    If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people
  12. Brace for impact! by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 3, Funny

    Brace for another lawsuit from that kooky Russian astrologer.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
  13. Re:What happens... by Dirtside · · Score: 3, Funny

    I like the idea, however, that there is something we could hit Pavarotti with that would make him an Earth-killer. Gamma radiation, perhaps?

    "Pavarotti SMASH!!! "

    --
    "Destroy science and religion. Science would re-emerge exactly the same; but not religion." - Penn Jillette, paraphrased
  14. Re:Now... by shadowmas · · Score: 3, Funny

    i wonder what effect this will have on my horoscope ;)