6 ms·

It is just 100 meters across. A single nuke and we will be back to one moon. Alternative scenario: cut it down to pieces, bring back to Earth - perhaps it is m

by tener 10y ago

It is just 100 meters across. A single nuke and we will be back to one moon. Alternative scenario: cut it down to pieces, bring back to Earth - perhaps it is made of gold or better?

nxzero 10y ago
Or, strange idea, leave it be.
- njharman 10y ago
  That is not the Human way.
hirsin 10y ago
Perhaps a good test site for Planetary Resources, although it sounds like it may be too small. Can you call dibs on an asteroid?
- ProAm 10y ago
  Yes, it's first come first serve.
- Ftuuky 10y ago
  Both US and Luxembourg have laws stating that if you get there first you own it and can use it for commercial purposes.
  - zo1 10y ago
    Have a look at my post, it's a sibling to your comment.
- zo1 10y ago
  No, you can't technically call "dibs" on it. It's not enough that all governments on earth have taken up all the land on the planet, they claim all of space as well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty It's been ratified by most of the governments on our planet. The key part from the wiki page: "[...]the Treaty states that "outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means"
  - ams6110 10y ago
    Treaties are only as good as the will to enforce them.
  - JumpCrisscross 10y ago
    > [the Outer Space Treaty has] been ratified by most of the governments on our planet The United States has already started passing legislation [1] which lets American companies claim ownership of celestial objects with the backing and force of American law and law enforcement. [1] http://www.space.com/31177-space-mining-commercial-spaceflight-congress.html http://www.space.com/31177-space-mining-commercial-spaceflig...
  - tener 10y ago
    It would seem the treaty is really about weapons of mass destruction and similar threats. All planets to be used only for peaceful purposes? Good luck with that. The treaty had a meaning when there were basically two-three countries capable of doing anything in space. Now we have private corporations doing similar feats. Soon it will be recognized as obsolete and new laws will be needed.
skilled 10y ago
Your comment made me laugh, thank you.
BurningFrog 10y ago
Nuke it in orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
tmptmp 10y ago
Or worse, like Andromeda Strain [1], full of dangerous viruses. Maybe we could sample it for viruses but can we test its full volume for viruses before bringing it on earth? But, it may lie dormant there and pass tests there, and once in Earth's climate, springs to life. In either way, gold or viruses, very thrilling. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andromeda_Strain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andromeda_Strain

by tener 10y ago

It is just 100 meters across. A single nuke and we will be back to one moon. Alternative scenario: cut it down to pieces, bring back to Earth - perhaps it is made of gold or better?

nxzero 10y ago

Or, strange idea, leave it be.

njharman 10y ago
That is not the Human way.

hirsin 10y ago

Perhaps a good test site for Planetary Resources, although it sounds like it may be too small. Can you call dibs on an asteroid?

ProAm 10y ago
Yes, it's first come first serve.
Ftuuky 10y ago
Both US and Luxembourg have laws stating that if you get there first you own it and can use it for commercial purposes.
- zo1 10y ago
  Have a look at my post, it's a sibling to your comment.
zo1 10y ago
No, you can't technically call "dibs" on it. It's not enough that all governments on earth have taken up all the land on the planet, they claim all of space as well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty It's been ratified by most of the governments on our planet. The key part from the wiki page: "[...]the Treaty states that "outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means"
- ams6110 10y ago
  Treaties are only as good as the will to enforce them.
- JumpCrisscross 10y ago
  > [the Outer Space Treaty has] been ratified by most of the governments on our planet The United States has already started passing legislation [1] which lets American companies claim ownership of celestial objects with the backing and force of American law and law enforcement. [1] http://www.space.com/31177-space-mining-commercial-spaceflight-congress.html http://www.space.com/31177-space-mining-commercial-spaceflig...
- tener 10y ago
  It would seem the treaty is really about weapons of mass destruction and similar threats. All planets to be used only for peaceful purposes? Good luck with that. The treaty had a meaning when there were basically two-three countries capable of doing anything in space. Now we have private corporations doing similar feats. Soon it will be recognized as obsolete and new laws will be needed.

skilled 10y ago

Your comment made me laugh, thank you.

BurningFrog 10y ago

Nuke it in orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

tmptmp 10y ago

Or worse, like Andromeda Strain [1], full of dangerous viruses. Maybe we could sample it for viruses but can we test its full volume for viruses before bringing it on earth? But, it may lie dormant there and pass tests there, and once in Earth's climate, springs to life. In either way, gold or viruses, very thrilling. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andromeda_Strain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andromeda_Strain