NASA Warns That There's No Way to Stop a Killer Asteroid

This year, we’ve seen a lot of headlines about asteroids nearly missing the planet, and while that’s not really surprising, as pretty much every news agency and click-baity tabloid website use asteroid flyby’s as a way to get cheap clicks and views. But this type of news hits a little harder this year since NASA performed a simulation of an asteroid impact in Europe...that FAILED miserably.And unfortunately for our already shattered nerves (thanks to the ongoing Pandemic that is spawning sequels faster than the Fast and Furious franchise).I even saw a video claiming that three asteroids were on a collision course for the Pacific Ocean at some undetermined point this year…So, obviously people seem to be a little more concerned about asteroids and comets…but how much danger are we REALLY in? Let’s find out!

[BigGahmBoss]

I once heard from people smarter than me that a potential method for using nukes to prevent an impact would be to detonate them near an asteroid instead of directly hitting it. That way the force of the explosions can maybe knock the object off course

[Darkflowerchyld]

I believe the great philosopher Gir said it best... "Yay! We're doomed!"

[victorsmith]

Here's the real question, if one of significant size was hurtling toward us, would you want to know or remain ignorant of the End coming?

[PatrickPaul]

The reason they don’t get notifications after hitting the bell is because they have notifications off. People who watch science videos for fun I would expect to get that.

[DreadMerlot]

I agree that in such an event, *time* is the most critical factor. But any project also requires *money* and *effort*, and I don't see humanity prioritizing resources for this over ED pills and hair growth serums. Speaking of hair, ponytails forever!! Easiest style to maintain, and people think you're in a band. P.S. In "Chelyabinsk, " the second syllable is stressed, as in "chel-YAH-binsk." (I'm a bit of a Russian language nerd.)

[Paul_Ch]

Folding in the new IPCC report I wonder which one will kill us all first, asteroids or ... us.

[SyefersStudio]

man lost 30 pounds in an intro should be the title

[scientchahming]

Well, with advanced warning we could send a spacecraft or two to the asteroid and nudge it out of the way so it would miss Earth.

[MrDestro]

The laser seems like a decent bet, but damn I want a front row seat to NASA smashing a rocket into an asteroid! How do I buy tickets to that? Ticketmaster?

The Martian was such a great movie, it's like that scene in Apollo 13, where they dump the box of stuff on the table and are all "We have to fix that, with what we got in this box", but as a whole movie. And it's got Michael Pena, who is an absolute treasure, and steals the show in everything he's in.

[thomaswilson]

Ah but there is a win case scenario but no one believes ☀️

[guyorsini]

While the idea of a "kinetic kill" is interesting and possibly exciting I think that the idea of having the booster make a soft landing and then fire its engine at an angle such that it becomes a "near miss" event has a better possibility of success.. The downside of a "kinetic kill" is that if it is a loosely packed object all the may be achieved is to break it into several smaller pieces that may well continue on its path and still impact Earth, only covering a much wider area and creating damage over a much wider area.

[matchrocket]

If the asteroid isn't spinning a solar shield consisting of simple mylar coated with aluminium could be spread across the Sunward side. Given enough time that would change the orbit significantly. I think this scenario as been suggested before.

[PatrickPaul]

If I was in charge of defending against an asteroid I have a series of nukes in space each one going off next to the asteroid on the same side in order to try and slightly adjust where it’s headed. But I have to admit that the math to see if it might work is way out of my league let alone how to arrange such a series of explosions

[brianbrewster]

What about the Nudge Method? You jockey a craft behind the threatening body, match its speed, and nudge it so it accelerates and either goes up or down on the Galactic Plane so that it will completely miss the Earth. This present no irradiated material (from a nuclear explosion) or death by 1001 minor impactors (a shattered asteroid).

[arturx]

2021 PDC is:
- An exercise.
- A practice run.
- NOT REAL.
- Completely fictitious.
- Completely an academic exercise.
- Completely imaginary.
- NOT REAL.

[samdomino]

Just got to work, need my sci get fix before i start 👌 thanks again science man

[DrNothing]

Great nu du! lol. Mine is now at my shoulders (the part of it that's not scalp only) and am planning to scalp it this weekend. ;) The asteroid phrase that wigs me out, BTW, is "keyhole"... That damn parameter scares my poopless. I've seen enough 'lucky' (random) amazing pool shots to know how this shooting gallery can be.

[jayripp]

Good ppl don't need to be here anymore we're so mean to each other.Everything is about money you can't even go see about your health without having to pay.Ppl still racist so yeah I hope it happen

[TheLadiGigi]

Came for the science. Stayed for the anime. Ran cuz of the doom.

[KelpieDog]

If some extinction level lump of rock is headed our way, I hope it lands on top of my house. I'd rather go out quickly than try to survive on a dying planet.