Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Using Gravity To Tow Asteroids

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the and-you-thought-a-snails-pace-was-slow dept.

cryptocom writes "Space.com is reporting that two scientists at NASA are proposing using a 20-ton spacecraft to pull asteroids off a possible collision course with Earth, using the spacecraft's own gravity as an attractor. This idea would not only be cheaper, but have a much higher chance of success, due to not having to actually land on the asteroid's surface."

2 of 508 comments (clear)

  1. They are wrong by suso · · Score: 0, Troll

    By my calculations, you'd need a 21-ton spacecraft to move an asteroid off course and save the earth from disaster. So they better start collecting enough metal to make one because 21-tons is a lot and will take quite a bit of power to put into orbit. ;-)

    And yes, I RTFA'd and understand that everything has gravity and in space it has more effect, etc.

  2. Bad math? by Loether · · Score: 0, Troll

    I didn't RTFA. But if your figures are right...

    US debt 8 trillion = $8,000,000,000
    Cost to launch = $ 400,000,000

    So you'd be able to launch 20 of these things not 20,000.

    --
    TODO create witty sig.