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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?
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
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.
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.