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Exploding Robots May Scout Hazardous Asteroids

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the things-that-asplode dept.

An anonymous reader writes to mention NewScientist is reporting that a small force of robots designed to explode could help reveal an asteroid's inner structure. This could in turn allow scientists a better understanding of how to divert a rogue asteroid on a collision course with Earth. From the article: "The main spacecraft would stay a few dozen kilometers away, perhaps nudging the probes towards the asteroid using springs. Once on the surface, the protective spherical shell of each probe would open to allow the probe to scan the surface nearby. To reduce complexity and costs, the probes lack solar panels and run on battery power, limiting their lifetime to a few days. But each probe could still cover a lot of ground in that time, as they could be fitted with small thrusters to let them hop across the surface. Eventually the probes could detonate onboard explosives, sacrificing themselves for science one by one. Probes that had not yet detonated would listen for any seismic waves sent rippling out from the explosion, and the main spacecraft could observe the craters left behind. That would tell scientists about the asteroid's strength and internal structure."

6 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. No wonder they're hazardous! by spun · · Score: 4, Funny

    What with all the exploding robots exploring them, of course they're going to be a bit hazardous.

    --
    - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
    1. Re:No wonder they're hazardous! by eviloverlordx · · Score: 5, Funny

      What with all the exploding robots exploring them, of course they're going to be a bit hazardous.

      I would hate to be one of the engineers testing these.

      --
      'Loose' is when your pants are three sizes too big. 'Lose' is when you misuse 'loose'.
  2. Think of the Asteroids by Suffering+Bastard · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh great, we're about to start pissing off asteroids by blowing up their kin. OF COURSE they're going to come falling on us, if for no other reason than retaliation.

    Watch for attacking asteroid clusters, armed to the teeth with lasers and nuclear bombs!

    ha ha, just kidding...asteroids don't have teeth.

    --
    "Molest me not with this pocket calculator stuff."
    - Deep Thought
  3. Bomb #20 says... by Half+a+dent · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Let there be light"

  4. In a related story..... by ReidMaynard · · Score: 5, Funny

    NASA announces the hiring of Wile E. Coyote to a Senior Staff position....

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    -- www.globaltics.net

    Political discussion for a new world

  5. Last words from the robots: by UnknowingFool · · Score: 4, Funny

    "I think you ought to know I'm feeling very depressed."

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.