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Nukes Not the Best Way To Stop Asteroids, Says Apollo Astronaut

Posted by timothy on from the thin-coating-of-flubber dept.

MajorTom writes "Right now, we are not tracking many of the asteroids that could destroy earth. But within the next decade, new telescopes will make that possible, and leave us with the tough decision of what to do about objects with an alarming chance of hitting our planet. Last year, NASA said that the best option is to nuke them. This week, Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart, explained that there are far better options, and he has started an organization to prove that they can work."

9 of 367 comments (clear)

  1. Then What Do We Nuke? by Kneo24 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Then what does he propose that we nuke? Each other? The whales? Martians?

    1. Re:Then What Do We Nuke? by X0563511 · · Score: 5, Funny

      The darkness! I want to attack the darkness! ...

      Fine, fine. . You cast nuclear fission at the darkness.

      --
      For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
    2. Re:Then What Do We Nuke? by Atari400 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Let's Nukem Forever, Duke.

      --
      IBM doesn't play chess with the Universe.
  2. Nuke it from Earth. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's the only way to make sure.

  3. Armageddon? by lorg · · Score: 5, Funny

    Please let one of the options be to send Ben Affleck into space. He has experience.

  4. here's another approach by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Find those advanced aliens that the other Apollo astronaut says are in our midst, and arrange for technology transfer briefings on asteroid redirection.

  5. 1up by the_fat_kid · · Score: 5, Funny

    so, let me see if I got this right:

    you would have a small triangular ship. Maybe two or three extras "just in case".
    we could control it remotely. A rotational control and a forward thruster should suffice.
    Then we could "fire" small nukes at the object. That would change their trajectory and break them into smaller pieces.

    I think it sounds like a brilliant idea, but where would we be able to find someone who could operate such a machine?

    --
    -- Sig under construction...
  6. He's got a point - why nuke the asteroid? by raehl · · Score: 5, Funny

    Trying to use nukes to deflect the asteroid seems like the more difficult solution to me. The asteroid will be far away and moving fast. Earth is close and (relative to us) not moving at all!

    Clearly the more practical way to avoid a collision is to use the nukes to deflect Earth out of the path of the asteroid.

    --
    paintball
  7. Re:It depends on the timing... by hdparm · · Score: 5, Funny
    Also, I'm a linguist, so my knowledge of astronomy and nukes is limited.

    Don't worry, your spelling is impeccable.