3 ms·
In order to change its trajectory, you need some wisely applied momentum, not a catastrophic explosion. The most powerful explosion may at most reduce the size
by pif 4y ago
In order to change its trajectory, you need some wisely applied momentum, not a catastrophic explosion.
The most powerful explosion may at most reduce the size of the biggest chunks, but not change the vector velocity of the barycentre at all.
- 0cf8612b2e1e 4y agoMy completely naive take: if something is X AU away from the planet, why wouldn’t the tiniest course change result in missing the Earth by a huge margin? Even a fractional alteration of momentum in any off axis direction seems like it would have the desired effect. It feels like smashing any available rocket into the side of a non accelerating body would be effective, but space physics is weird, so I must be missing something.
- pif 4y agoYour analysis is correct and wrong at the same time. You are not considering the fact that we currently are not able to observe a rock a few AC away with the precision that is necessary to assess that it is going to hit us, and that the gentle punch we can give it will not worsen the situation.