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Aerospace Giant Building a Gravity Tractor to Deflect Killer Asteroids

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posted on Aug, 31 2009 @ 10:57 PM
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Did a quick search and nothing turned up, but just found this article very interesting. Interesting in the fact that this situation is serious enough that a 'private' organization is conducting research into this field and designing a gravity tractor to move a potential "killer" asteroid...

Again fascinating! Could this just be a precautionary measure to protect humanity, or is something very large headed our way? Not jumping to any conclusions, just thought I would share...

Aerospac e Giant Building a Gravity Tractor to Deflect Killer Asteroids



NASA astronauts Edward Lu and Stanley Love first proposed using a robotic spacecraft to nudge space rocks away from Earth using the gentle force of gravity a few years ago. Now a European aerospace giant has begun seriously investigating the concept.

The 11-ton "gravity tractor" would have to launch 15 years before a predicted collision between an asteroid and Earth, according to the BBC. But the company, EADS Astrium, noted that no spacecraft prototype has emerged just yet.

Any defense against asteroids smacking the Earth currently relies upon a loose surveillance network of ground-based telescopes and volunteer observers to keep track of potential dangers. The National Research Council released a report earlier this month on how NASA lacks the funding to meet its goals for detecting nearby space rocks.....


[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/830eb3efa793.jpg[/atsimg]

[edit on 31-8-2009 by tmayhew01]



posted on Aug, 31 2009 @ 11:39 PM
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Remember reading somehting like this years ago. If the asteroid is far enough, the gravity excerted by the 'tractor' would be used to cause a very small shift in the asteroid's route, but just enough to save the Earth 15 years later.

Don't really like the word 'tractor' though.



posted on Sep, 1 2009 @ 03:30 AM
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Hmmmm do they know something we dont?

The Concept of this is very good, hope it works if they get it built would be useful.



posted on Sep, 1 2009 @ 06:27 PM
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Awesome idea.... but 15 years, come on. What if we discover something huge coming our way and it will only take 14 years or something.

IMO if they want a device to save earth form something smashing into it, wouldn't it be best if it works in a few hours of something.




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