We’ve nearly become creators with our aggressive research and development in tissue engineering, now scientists at Stevenage Space Company, EADS Astrium with the European Space Agency are becoming saviors. The team of scientists here is developing a spacecraft which relying on the force of gravity would stop large asteroids from destroying the Earth.
The 10 tonne “gravity tractor” would be made to reflect any kind of orbiting rock years before it can affect the Earth. With the number of asteroids and other such dispersed rock in space, we need something to defend us against them. Dr Ralph Cordey, who is EADS Astrium’s head says:
Frankly I thought it was crackers. I thought it would never work
but addressing the concerned issues it is thought a feasible project now.
Though the prototypes have not yet been made, but it is supposed that the device will be solar powered. Intercepting asteroids from just 48 meters away, using the gravitational force the spacecraft would attract it towards itself and will then deflect it with itself into a different orbit than the Earth’s, thus doing the savior act.
Via: BBC
Comments
This is idiotic beyond the pale. First off, such a small mass (10 tons) will do little to stop or even slightly deflect a serious incoming body. Second, the gravitational attraction of such a small mass would have to be replicated many TRILLIONS of times and placed in orbit far from earth in fairly close proximity to each other to have any probability of intercepting anything and deflecting it. Think for a second about the surface area of the earth and expand that out until it is far enough away from the planet to have any chance of really deflecting anything of appreciable size.
Now, consider our current (and projected for that matter) lift to orbit capabilities. Even if we had a gigantic slingshot that uses NO ENERGY and only has to be aimed, which is capable of sending these things into orbit, how do the developers propose to park the deflectors in the right orbit without having on-board propulsion systems to slow their deployment into space?
As I said, this is idiotic and will never happen. Stop wasting money on this concept.
Obviously there is a propulsion technology being used that is NOT being divulged to the public. The only thing idiotic is that they have had that capability for decades and just now they are starting to consider its use.