Interesting new approach:
<http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/asteroid-deflection-tether/>http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/12/asteroid-deflection-tether/
This proposal has attracted some really stupid comments from people
who are not thinking the matter thorough, including Russell
Schweickart, I am sorry to say.
Note my comment at the end:
The billions of pounds of material would not have to be brought from
earth. It would be right there, at the asteroid. Cut a chunk out of
it, connect it to the rest by tether, job done.
If the asteroid were cylindrical, or shaped like a potato, it would
not take much energy or time to cut a piece from the end.
Tethers capable of doing this are under development now, for use in
space elevators. A billion pounds is the weight of 4 container ships,
which is not a large mass. For a 6 mile cable, conventional, existing
materials could be used.
This idea is more practical than people realize.
- Jed
