Asteroid won't hit earth in 29 years!! YAY!!

*Raph's Girl* · 02-20-2007, 03:01 PM

An asteroid may come uncomfortably close to Earth in 2036 and the United Nations should assume responsibility for a space mission to deflect it, a group of astronauts, engineers and scientists said on Saturday.

Astronomers are monitoring an asteroid named Apophis, which has a 1 in 45,000 chance of striking Earth on April 13, 2036.

Although the odds of an impact by this particular asteroid are low, a recent congressional mandate for
NASA to upgrade its tracking of near-Earth asteroids is expected to uncover hundreds, if not thousands of threatening space rocks in the near future, former astronaut Rusty Schweickart said.

"It's not just Apophis we're looking at. Every country is at risk. We need a set of general principles to deal with this issue," Schweickart, a member of the Apollo 9 crew that orbited the earth in March 1969, told an American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in San Francisco.

Schweickart plans to present an update next week to the U.N. Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on plans to develop a blueprint for a global response to an asteroid threat.

The Association of Space Explorers, a group of former astronauts and cosmonauts, intends to host a series of high-level workshops this year to flesh out the plan and will make a formal proposal to the U.N. in 2009, he said.

Schweickart wants to see the United Nations adopt procedures for assessing asteroid threats and deciding if and when to take action.

The favored approach to dealing with a potentially deadly space rock is to dispatch a spacecraft that would use gravity to alter the asteroid's course so it no longer threatens Earth, said astronaut Ed Lu, a veteran of the
International Space Station.

The so-called Gravity Tractor could maintain a position near the threatening asteroid, exerting a gentle tug that, over time, would deflect the asteroid.

An asteroid the size of Apophis, which is about 460 feet
long, would take about 12 days of gravity-tugging, Lu added.

Mission costs are estimated at $300 million.

Launching an asteroid deflection mission early would reduce the amount of energy needed to alter its course and increase the chances of a successful outcome, Schweickart said.

NASA says the precise effect of a 460-foot (140-meter) object hitting the Earth would depend on what the asteroid was made of and the angle of impact.

Paul Slovic, president of Oregon-based Decision Research, which studies judgment, decision-making and risk analysis, said the asteroid could take out an entire city or region.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070219/..._deflector1_dc

Raph's Girl note: AAAH!!! The Asteroid is named Apophis!!! The Gu'aold are gonna attack in 30 years!! We're doooomed!!!

*Mecha Cow* · 02-20-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

1 in 45,000 chance

Misleading thread titles FTL.

愛 · 02-20-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecha Cow

Misleading thread titles FTL.

Agreed! So...why is there an "aah" in the title when we're not going to get hit?

~~LogicDonny~~ · 02-20-2007, 05:06 PM

that pic Ai scares me everytime!!! Stop it..

Sexual she is.. um this pic fit the topic well.

*Katie* · 02-20-2007, 05:12 PM

harrrumph.

They say this about every 6 years or so.

I'll believe it when I die in a horrible flaming explosion....or survive to face whatever post apocalyptic society arises.

~~LogicDonny~~ · 02-20-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie

harrrumph.

They say this about every 6 years or so.

I'll believe it when I die in a horrible flaming explosion....or survive to face whatever post apocalyptic society arises.

the black clock ghouls from the simpsons.

*VaughnMichael* · 02-21-2007, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ai

Agreed! So...why is there an "aah" in the title when we're not going to get hit?

cause it's just like the real news but atleast she didnt make you wait till the end of the brodcast to see the story you wanted to see lol

**Barkworm** · 02-21-2007, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ai

Agreed! So...why is there an "aah" in the title when we're not going to get hit?

Edited!!!

Stimor · 02-21-2007, 08:31 AM

misleading title still

**Barkworm** · 02-21-2007, 10:26 AM

Err... how?

*Sewer Bull* · 02-21-2007, 10:44 AM

Because it's only 44999/45000 certain that it won't hit.

*Ecto Jedi* · 02-21-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sewer Bull

Because it's only 44999/45000 certain that it won't hit.

I dunno about you, but I like those odds.

**Barkworm** · 02-21-2007, 12:28 PM

I don't even plan on living that long, for all I care it can hit earth.

Stimor · 02-21-2007, 06:44 PM

it might hit earth, not "it will" or "it wont"

*Ecto Jedi* · 02-21-2007, 07:10 PM

As long as it doesn't land on me, I'm fine with that.

*That Matt Guy* · 02-22-2007, 12:20 AM

Asteroids do not concern me.

Ra · 02-22-2007, 12:42 AM

*monotone* Yay *waves a little flag about* I'm glad it's not going to hit us, but as long as I manage to do something until '36, I don't care. And knowing me, I will have at least done something like save the world or start a conga club before I get burnt to death.

02-20-2007, 03:01 PM	#1
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	Asteroid won't hit earth in 29 years!! YAY!! An asteroid may come uncomfortably close to Earth in 2036 and the United Nations should assume responsibility for a space mission to deflect it, a group of astronauts, engineers and scientists said on Saturday. Astronomers are monitoring an asteroid named Apophis, which has a 1 in 45,000 chance of striking Earth on April 13, 2036. Although the odds of an impact by this particular asteroid are low, a recent congressional mandate for NASA to upgrade its tracking of near-Earth asteroids is expected to uncover hundreds, if not thousands of threatening space rocks in the near future, former astronaut Rusty Schweickart said. "It's not just Apophis we're looking at. Every country is at risk. We need a set of general principles to deal with this issue," Schweickart, a member of the Apollo 9 crew that orbited the earth in March 1969, told an American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in San Francisco. Schweickart plans to present an update next week to the U.N. Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on plans to develop a blueprint for a global response to an asteroid threat. The Association of Space Explorers, a group of former astronauts and cosmonauts, intends to host a series of high-level workshops this year to flesh out the plan and will make a formal proposal to the U.N. in 2009, he said. Schweickart wants to see the United Nations adopt procedures for assessing asteroid threats and deciding if and when to take action. The favored approach to dealing with a potentially deadly space rock is to dispatch a spacecraft that would use gravity to alter the asteroid's course so it no longer threatens Earth, said astronaut Ed Lu, a veteran of the International Space Station. The so-called Gravity Tractor could maintain a position near the threatening asteroid, exerting a gentle tug that, over time, would deflect the asteroid. An asteroid the size of Apophis, which is about 460 feet long, would take about 12 days of gravity-tugging, Lu added. Mission costs are estimated at $300 million. Launching an asteroid deflection mission early would reduce the amount of energy needed to alter its course and increase the chances of a successful outcome, Schweickart said. NASA says the precise effect of a 460-foot (140-meter) object hitting the Earth would depend on what the asteroid was made of and the angle of impact. Paul Slovic, president of Oregon-based Decision Research, which studies judgment, decision-making and risk analysis, said the asteroid could take out an entire city or region. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070219/..._deflector1_dc Raph's Girl note: AAAH!!! The Asteroid is named Apophis!!! The Gu'aold are gonna attack in 30 years!! We're doooomed!!! __________________

02-20-2007, 05:12 PM	#5
Katie Just...way too serious. Join Date: May 2005 Location: purgatory Posts: 3,519	harrrumph. They say this about every 6 years or so. I'll believe it when I die in a horrible flaming explosion....or survive to face whatever post apocalyptic society arises. __________________ THE WORLD IS JUST AWESOME

02-21-2007, 08:31 AM	#9
Stimor Foot Soldier Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 106	misleading title still __________________

02-21-2007, 10:26 AM	#10
Barkworm Draconian leftist ruler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 6,759	Err... how? __________________ Make ****, not kill!

02-21-2007, 10:44 AM	#11
Sewer Bull Devil's Advocate Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,768	Because it's only 44999/45000 certain that it won't hit. __________________ Soooo... THIS* is how you spend your free time now?!*

02-20-2007, 05:06 PM	#4
~~LogicDonny~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,643	that pic Ai scares me everytime!!! Stop it.. Sexual she is.. um this pic fit the topic well.

02-21-2007, 12:28 PM	#13
Barkworm Draconian leftist ruler Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 6,759	I don't even plan on living that long, for all I care it can hit earth. __________________ Make ****, not kill!

02-21-2007, 06:44 PM	#14
Stimor Foot Soldier Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Finland Posts: 106	it might hit earth, not "it will" or "it wont" __________________

02-21-2007, 07:10 PM	#15
Ecto Jedi Denki Wo Kitte Kudasai Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,439	As long as it doesn't land on me, I'm fine with that.

02-22-2007, 12:20 AM	#16
That Matt Guy Honey Bunches Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 5,840	Asteroids do not concern me.

02-22-2007, 12:42 AM	#17
Ra It's my desire? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In your pants. Posts: 4,441	monotone Yay waves a little flag about I'm glad it's not going to hit us, but as long as I manage to do something until '36, I don't care. And knowing me, I will have at least done something like save the world or start a conga club before I get burnt to death. __________________ "So. The whole lot of you against little old me? How retarded."