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Engineers Working On Swarm Of Laser Wielding Satellites To Deflect Asteroids
Zothecula writes with news involving space and lasers. From the article: "A collision between Earth and an asteroid a few kilometers in diameter would release as much energy as the simultaneous detonation of several million nuclear bombs, and with the impact of an asteroid estimated at around 10 km (6.2 miles) in diameter believed to be responsible for wiping out the dinosaurs, numerous strategies have been devised to try and avoid such devastation. The latest idea comes from engineers at Glasgow's University of Strathclyde who suggest that a swarm of laser-wielding satellites could nudge Earth-bound asteroids off their collision course."
"These satellites, which we will use for asteroid deflection only, not for covert assassinations or as a dreadful weapon of war, will be a vital part in ensuring the future of human civilization" said a Pentagon spokesperson. "We look forward for a chance to put these satellites, which will not be a part of any secret missile shield program nor used to destroy terrorist hideouts, into orbit to protect our planet."
What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
Like the dozens of similar comments waiting to suggest that this technology could be used to target land-based settlements (although if you RTFA, it's suggested that it might not be able to) or other satellites, there will probably be a number of concerned politicians who will gun this down on the same premises. With all of the cyberwar going on these days, both intergovernmental and rogue, it seems inevitable that someone will figure out how to hijack these things. (Possibly Kevin Mitnick whistling into a payphone with a wad of chewing gum and a wrapper.)
And hence the first rule of world-changing mad science: don't make the world's largest bomb if you have to count on others to use it for deterrence.
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I stopped reading at "Swarm of Laser Wielding..." when an image popped into my mind:
A big bad asteroid hurtling towards our little blue planet. Then the camera pans around and we see a huge number of little dots. Flying closer, we see a huge swarm of frickin' space sharks swooping down towards the asteroid, shooting their lasers at it while Bruce Willis, riding the lead shark, yells "Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker." I'd pay money to see that.
The Angels have the Phone Box
I don't know why they're looking at lasers, but the only idea I've heard, which sounds workable, is send up robotic rockets which attach, drive in a spike or something, and drive the thing to a new course.
Why lasers? Do you really trust them not to ever be directed earthbound, towards some guy who has a name which rhymes with Sim Pong Nun? So very tempting and all you need is a rationalizer-in-chief to make it so.
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Lasers are just a way to transfer energy and the only energy those satellites will have comes from a few solar panels. It would be too weak to pose a threat to even a single human. It could theoretically be used for targeting though.
RTFA, although I know this isn't a popular idea.
The big asteroids become big asteroids moving in a different direction, and a puff of hot vapour where the laser has ablated a chunk of the surface.
If you look at the details, which would include the mass and velocity of the asteroid in question, you'll understand. The mass and fuel needed for such a "tug" satellite would be directly proportional and not possibly to launch, much less have extra fuel to maneuver over to the target, etc.
They asteroids in question only look small and slow because of the incomprehensible size and emptiness of the background. That is, lack of a good reference point.
http://www.brighthub.com/science/space/articles/64710.aspx
Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
No, the two halves would go around the earth and rejoin on the other side just like something out of Scooby Doo, which based on the apparent comprehension level I'm guessing is the favorite cartoon of most of these AC's.
Note that the headline includes the word 'deflect' and the summary mentions nudging asteroids off of a collision course. Neither suggests that the asteroid would be split. To save time, it also does not mention 'death wielding laser of doom' (even though those would be awesome), sharks (although it does fit dinosaurs in), or anything about using these satellites to 'deflect' political opponents (but it does almost mention why that wouldn't work, traveling through the atmosphere).
Now please go back to aol or myspace, where your reading comprehension, grammar, and lack of identity will no doubt leave them in awe.
I agree space junk is a problem and we shouldn't try to make it worse. HOWEVER, several million nuclear bombs going off might make more mess and kill us all. I'm going to have to pick space junk.
I believe the supposition is that the lasers could act over a long time and at very long ranges when compared to kinetic methods which would have to wait until the thing got close before acting. The earlier you start pushing on the object the less you have to push in order to change its course sufficiently. As far as supplying power, in addition to solar and onboard reactors there is also the possibility of beaming energy from the ground. It would be inefficient, but then you just send way more energy than is needed at the other end.
... have the LHC generate a black hole, and time it so the black hole intercepts the asteroid and eats it?
Apparently they never played "Asteroids"...
https://www.accountkiller.com/removal-requested
We are talking about a 400 lb payload. Compare that with the 1800 lb of a voyager probe.
"At the end of the day the energy requirements are the same."
No.
Conventional rocket: you have to haul up the fuel and the reaction mass. Also very inefficient
Ion thruster: very efficient, can be solar powered, but you still have to haul up the reaction mass
Lasers: probably more efficient than a conventional rocket, can be solar powered, don't need reaction mass (they use the asteroid for that)
The amount of stuff you have to haul up to the asteroid is GREATLY reduced using the laser solution, and therefore the total required energy is much less.
Its for... asteroids where asteroid means: hostile target.
This sig is not paradoxical or ironic.
Only if you can come up with the acronym: Satellite Heavy Asteroid Removal and Kill System.
Even when the experts all agree, they may well be mistaken. --- Bertrand Russell.