Using photon pressure from space mirrors focussed the Archimedes way would allow to act early while the asteroid is still very far away, and the earlier you push the less push is needed to deviate the orbit sufficiently, which would make up for the relative feebleness of the effect.
Michel ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Jonsson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 12:02 AM Subject: [Vo]:Space tractors seem ineffective > http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0509595 > > The article says that a 20 metric tonnes heavy space vehicle should be used > as a gravity pull on asteroids to move them from dangerous orbits. > > Wouldn't it be better to ram the asteroid or use dielectric influence to > achieve forces on it? Gravity seems so weak in comparison. > > David >
