Comments on: Near-Earth Object Protection: NASA or Defense Department Mission?

By: EJLima

EJLima — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:17:01 +0000

I remember a spectacular meteor strike in the nw US during the mission to shoot down the disabled spy satellite. A very interesting coincidence?

By: dubephnx

dubephnx — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:58:10 +0000

Harmon, would you purchase a Shelter that will protect you from an asteroid? What about some of the Government Agencies?

By: actionforspace

actionforspace — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:08:23 +0000

There is a synergy with developing the CEV and other Constellation hardware for the purpose of NEO deflection. Congress and space supporters must realize this to free up the most funding for both!

By: Harmon Everett

Harmon Everett — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:02:39 +0000

In considering that an incoming asteroid might need to be nudged out of its path with substantial mass, perhaps a ring of orbiting captured asteroids that were being mined in LEO would be appropriate. If they were a government DoD or NASA protection scheme, they would be an enormous COST to maintain. If they were being mined by private commercial corporations, they would serve as both protection, and profitable source of resources. A small retainer from the government to use them in times of need for asteroid deflection purposes would encourage private development, and minimize costs to the governments. Let’s get this set up right from the beginning, so a government protection beaurocracy doesn’t get set up before private enterprise. Get the government to set up the criteria for the services needed - and then PURCHASE the services from the private sector. As the post office purchased mail service from the fledgling air freight industry and helped develop air travel.

By: TyMoore

TyMoore — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:56:20 +0000

I can see that this does not fit in with NASA’s exploration charter–however, this is where I feel that the Military can actually take a legitimate leadership roll. Because it is the Military’s job to protect the country from threats–I would assume that an asteroid impact ought to fall into this category.

Or perhaps a ‘privately owned’ company can do it–on a contract basis with the government…?

By: dubephnx

dubephnx — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:10:01 +0000

Current NEO’s NOT BEING ADDRESSED on Planet Earth:

A) Tornados
B) Hurricanes
C) Earthquakes
D) Tsunamis
E) Massive Floods

These and others are only mitigated for AFTERMATHS!! Prevention is for whatever reason, currently still “FORBIDDEN”!! Why??

I have been amazed at the slow acceptance of a new method to prevent these NEO’S destroying buildings, structures, shelters, barriers, and containers, since the inception of a new technology to do just that! Why does everybody just skip the most important survival PRODUCTS in our lives? Would improving these products embarass you more than getting killed by not improving them?