3 ms·
Redirect it using electromagnetism?
by phragg 14y ago
Redirect it using electromagnetism?
- laumars 14y agoThe current preferred method is essentially firing painballs at one side of the asteroid. http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/deflecting-an-asteroid-with-paintballs-1026.html http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2012/deflecting-an-asteroid-wi...
- phragg 14y agoHmm very interesting. So this would make it much more reflective, causing suns photons to bounce off and push it off orbit. In order to further understand this, and forgive me here if it sounds strange, would a flat black car essentially be 'faster' than a gloss white car due to lack of reflection?
- sp332 14y agoPhoton radiation pressure is almost immeasurably tiny. It takes years to make a smallish deflection, and that's exposed to hard radiation. A larger, related effect is visible with this desk toy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crookes_radiometer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crookes_radiometer
- yread 14y agoSince it takes 20 years to deflect it we'd better start soon
- maxerickson 14y agoIt's nice that the 2029 flyby provides an opportunity to launch a more aggressive mission (if it seems more necessary by then).