We actually don’t yet know if the DART bump pushed that asteroid enough to make enough of a difference in case a real asteroid threat appears. Best not to count the apples before the tree grows, nor to ignore the real and immediate perils we have so far failed to deter or deflect.
Very much in character for humanity. We’re pretty bad at sustained effort under stress – we evolved to handle problems by fight or flight. So we’re pretty good at taking short, sharp action (smacking an asteroid), but very, very bad at maintaining a slow and steady effort (reducing climate change or, for that matter, wearing masks consistently to protect from COVID-19).
The U.S. is doing more to protect the planet than any other major player.
Per DART, it may take years of collecting data to fully calculate Einstein’s theory against this test. Mass x Velocity = Energy enough to move an object further towards a gravitational pull that will send the rock safely away. And no debris from an explosion.
cmxx over 1 year ago
We actually don’t yet know if the DART bump pushed that asteroid enough to make enough of a difference in case a real asteroid threat appears. Best not to count the apples before the tree grows, nor to ignore the real and immediate perils we have so far failed to deter or deflect.
Motivemagus over 1 year ago
Very much in character for humanity. We’re pretty bad at sustained effort under stress – we evolved to handle problems by fight or flight. So we’re pretty good at taking short, sharp action (smacking an asteroid), but very, very bad at maintaining a slow and steady effort (reducing climate change or, for that matter, wearing masks consistently to protect from COVID-19).
Which doesn’t mean that this isn’t cool!
The Nodding Head over 1 year ago
You may leave here for four days in space
But when you return it’s the same old place
— Eve of Destruction ,PF Sloan
Retrac Premium Member over 1 year ago
The U.S. is doing more to protect the planet than any other major player.
Per DART, it may take years of collecting data to fully calculate Einstein’s theory against this test. Mass x Velocity = Energy enough to move an object further towards a gravitational pull that will send the rock safely away. And no debris from an explosion.
wellis1947 Premium Member over 1 year ago
It is a valiant attempt and focuses on the “science” rather than the “politics” of the situation.
MFRXIM Premium Member over 1 year ago
How much CO2 did that project add to the problem?!