3 ms·
A balloon does that because it has very low mass and moment of inertia, compared to the thrust provided by the escaping air. An asteroid is not like that, even
by wcoenen 3y ago
A balloon does that because it has very low mass and moment of inertia, compared to the thrust provided by the escaping air.
An asteroid is not like that, even when heating one side with a nuclear bomb. The goal is to create a tiny change in its velocity vector, which still adds up to a significant trajectory change over time.
- jonplackett 3y agoIf on the other hand it IS balloon-like and hollow then let’s just let it crash into earth and pop.
- peteradio 3y agoIndeed, perhaps there will be some way to detect latex based asteroids in the future and avoid any unnecessary nuclear deployment.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- dylan604 3y agoWe just need to build a spaced based array of microphones (comsaphones???) to listen for the high pitched squeal or the pfffft sounds as the air is rushing out the opening.
- hermitcrab 3y agoIn a vacuum?
- dylan604 3y agoReally? C'mon. Walk this thread back up, and see if you can find where it went off the reality rails. Then, see if your comment fits with the seriousness of the thread.
- hermitcrab 3y agoI prefer humour to be based on plausible physics. ;0P
- dylan604 3y agothank goodness you're not the one in charge of comedy for the rest of us
- peteradio 3y agoYa if you go up a few I see it really goes off the rails here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38722192 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38722192