Mirrors: the best defence against asteroids

Mirrors: the best defence against asteroids

www.timesonline.co.uk

A swarm of mirrors flying in formation in space are the best defence against an asteroid hitting Earth, a study has concluded.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Then well probably get all the aliens combing their hair whilst looking in the mirrors.

Nice idea though I cant see it happening

www.timesonline.co.uk
(visit the link for the full news article)

"A swarm of mirrors flying in formation in space are the best defence against an asteroid hitting Earth, a study has concluded. "


That made me laugh for some odd reason, just so strait forward, if we put mirrors in space, we're all safe.

I don't see it happening. Seems silly in it's own way, but who knows?Humans can get desperate in times of fear.

When they said this:

Mirrors in space, or “solar concentrators”, would direct the sun’s rays against a threatening asteroid to heat the surface sufficiently that it turned to gas. They would be aimed against a small area of the rock, no more than 1.5 metres across, to generate temperatures of at least 2,100C (3,812F).

The evaporating gases would shoot into space, creating the thrust needed to divert the asteroid and prevent a deadly impact.

they left out one major detail: They have no idea where the outgassing would be directed at. The gases could shoot back towards the mirrors and blow them apart, or at the very least knock them out of alignment, preventing them from heating up the asteroid any more, in which case the asteroid wouldn't get very far.

In theory it sounds like a good idea, but in actuality it's quite absurd.

[edit on 10/6/2007 by pjslug]

The mirrors would most certainly not be close enough for that to happen.

reply to post by forsakenwayfarer


What if the outgassing shot a piece like a bullet towards the mirror? There goes several million dollars...


I like the "attaching a solar sail" idea better...

Light travels far faster. There is no way the mirrors would be damaged.

reply to post by forsakenwayfarer


Touché.

Still, the whole premise relies on the ability to detect these NEO asteroids in advanced. Most of them are in hidden in the dark...

Maybe the mirrors can be used to light up some of the darker areas? Or not...

Originally posted by Beachcoma
reply to post by forsakenwayfarer

 

Touché.

Still, the whole premise relies on the ability to detect these NEO asteroids in advanced. Most of them are in hidden in the dark...

Yep that was my first thought. Also read somewhere "It isnt the ones we know about that are the problem, its the ones we dont know about"

Very much so the ones we don't know about.

Good information, impact.arc.nasa.gov...