Sentinel
20th February 2007, 22:34
So, has anyone heard about this? An asteroid which could be up to 320 meters (1000 feet) in diameter, called Apophis, may collide with earth in 2036. There was a big article about this on the website of one of Sweden's largest newspapers, Aftonbladet, so it's apparently not bullshit.. The swedish article said the asteroid was only 150 m in diameter though, so I'm a little confused now.
Regardless, was an asteroid of these proportions to actually hit earth, it'd be enough to erase a metropolis at once, and could potentially have a disastrious long term impact on the future of many lifeforms on earth. It would easily be the greatest catastrophe to strike mankind so far.
I found this online:
Originally posted by SPACE.com
BOULDER, Colorado The potential for a newly discovered asteroid smacking into the Earth in 2036 cannot be discounted. NASA has sketched out a response strategy in the outside possibility that the space rock becomes a true threat.
NASAs action plan was the result of prodding by a group of astronauts, scientists and other technical specialists uneasy about the current lack of action to protect the Earth from the impact of near Earth objects (NEOs).
The object was found last year through the efforts of NASAs Spaceguard Survey. In 1998 NASA formally initiated the Spaceguard Survey by adopting the objective of finding 90 percent of the near Earth asteroids larger than 3,280 feet (one kilometer) diameter within the next decade - before the end of 2008.
Asteroid 99942 Apophis first labeled as 2004 MN4 -- is estimated to be roughly 1,000 feet (320 meters) in diameter. Were it to strike Earth, it would not set off global havoc but would generate significant local or regional damage, experts say.
Worrisome to asteroid watchers is the exceptionally close flyby of Earth by Apophis on April 13, 2029. So close in fact, the space rock will be naked-eye visible as it darts by. And what cant be ruled out at this time is that Apophis may pass through a gravitational keyhole a spot that alters the asteroids trajectory as it zips by our planet and might put it on the bee-line lane for banging into Earth seven years later.
Issue of critical importance
Concern over asteroid Apophis and the ability to precisely chart its trajectory -- and take steps if needed to deflect the object -- were fervently voiced by the B612 Foundation, chaired by Russell Schweickart, a former Apollo astronaut.
The group requested that NASA carry out an analysis that included the possibility of placing an active radio transponder on the object. Doing so at a fairly early date would yield the requisite orbital accuracy of the asteroid as it sped through space.
In a June 6 letter to NASA Administrator, Michael Griffin, Schweickart on behalf of the B612 Foundation called for support in resolving an issue of critical importance - namely whether a scientific mission should be launched to asteroid Apophis in the near term.
Such a probe, if dispatched, Schweickart stated, would provide knowledge of the asteroids orbit in time to initiate a deflection mission in the unlikely event one should be required. The position of the B612 Foundation was that the mission should be staged, pointing out that NASAs NEO program personnel apparently did not concur with that view. A spacecraft mission to Apophis would augment tracking of the object from the ground, the letter to Griffin explained, and also carry out a number of scientific duties too.
NASA response
NASA provided a formal response to the B612 Foundations June communiqu via an October 12 letter from Mary Cleave, Associate Administrator for Science Mission Directorate.
That NASA reply came with an appended detailed analysis by Steven Chesley of NASAS NEO Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. The study by Chesley dug into Apophis orbit, under varying conditions, and contained other items pertaining to the space agencys findings about the Apophis matter.
The key conclusion to be taken from this analysis, Cleave explained in the letter, is that aggressive (i.e., more expensive) action can reasonably be delayed until after the 2013 observing opportunity. For Apophis, the 16 years available after 2013 are sufficient to recognize and respond to any hazard that still exists after that time.
Cleave noted in the letter that while Apophis is an object whose motion we will continue to monitor closely in the coming years, we conclude a space mission to this object based solely on any perceived collision hazard is not warranted at this time.
Not ruled out by Cleave, however, is the prospect of Discovery-class, low-cost missions sent to Apophis, based on purely scientific arguments, she said.
Indeed, the asteroids orbit is particularly attractive for spacecraft rendezvous, and the extraordinary close encounter in April 2029 provides a unique opportunity to investigate a number of scientific NEO issues, Cleave explained in the letter.
The entire article at SPACE.com (http://www.space.com/news/051103_asteroid_apophis.html). According to the article in Aftonbladet, Nasa is actually considering different strategies to alter the asteroid's course, much like in the moive Armageddon.. I would have linked to it, but it's in Swedish. So, what has everyone heard about this, and what do you comrades think? Please post links and news on the subject in this thread.
Regardless, was an asteroid of these proportions to actually hit earth, it'd be enough to erase a metropolis at once, and could potentially have a disastrious long term impact on the future of many lifeforms on earth. It would easily be the greatest catastrophe to strike mankind so far.
I found this online:
Originally posted by SPACE.com
BOULDER, Colorado The potential for a newly discovered asteroid smacking into the Earth in 2036 cannot be discounted. NASA has sketched out a response strategy in the outside possibility that the space rock becomes a true threat.
NASAs action plan was the result of prodding by a group of astronauts, scientists and other technical specialists uneasy about the current lack of action to protect the Earth from the impact of near Earth objects (NEOs).
The object was found last year through the efforts of NASAs Spaceguard Survey. In 1998 NASA formally initiated the Spaceguard Survey by adopting the objective of finding 90 percent of the near Earth asteroids larger than 3,280 feet (one kilometer) diameter within the next decade - before the end of 2008.
Asteroid 99942 Apophis first labeled as 2004 MN4 -- is estimated to be roughly 1,000 feet (320 meters) in diameter. Were it to strike Earth, it would not set off global havoc but would generate significant local or regional damage, experts say.
Worrisome to asteroid watchers is the exceptionally close flyby of Earth by Apophis on April 13, 2029. So close in fact, the space rock will be naked-eye visible as it darts by. And what cant be ruled out at this time is that Apophis may pass through a gravitational keyhole a spot that alters the asteroids trajectory as it zips by our planet and might put it on the bee-line lane for banging into Earth seven years later.
Issue of critical importance
Concern over asteroid Apophis and the ability to precisely chart its trajectory -- and take steps if needed to deflect the object -- were fervently voiced by the B612 Foundation, chaired by Russell Schweickart, a former Apollo astronaut.
The group requested that NASA carry out an analysis that included the possibility of placing an active radio transponder on the object. Doing so at a fairly early date would yield the requisite orbital accuracy of the asteroid as it sped through space.
In a June 6 letter to NASA Administrator, Michael Griffin, Schweickart on behalf of the B612 Foundation called for support in resolving an issue of critical importance - namely whether a scientific mission should be launched to asteroid Apophis in the near term.
Such a probe, if dispatched, Schweickart stated, would provide knowledge of the asteroids orbit in time to initiate a deflection mission in the unlikely event one should be required. The position of the B612 Foundation was that the mission should be staged, pointing out that NASAs NEO program personnel apparently did not concur with that view. A spacecraft mission to Apophis would augment tracking of the object from the ground, the letter to Griffin explained, and also carry out a number of scientific duties too.
NASA response
NASA provided a formal response to the B612 Foundations June communiqu via an October 12 letter from Mary Cleave, Associate Administrator for Science Mission Directorate.
That NASA reply came with an appended detailed analysis by Steven Chesley of NASAS NEO Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. The study by Chesley dug into Apophis orbit, under varying conditions, and contained other items pertaining to the space agencys findings about the Apophis matter.
The key conclusion to be taken from this analysis, Cleave explained in the letter, is that aggressive (i.e., more expensive) action can reasonably be delayed until after the 2013 observing opportunity. For Apophis, the 16 years available after 2013 are sufficient to recognize and respond to any hazard that still exists after that time.
Cleave noted in the letter that while Apophis is an object whose motion we will continue to monitor closely in the coming years, we conclude a space mission to this object based solely on any perceived collision hazard is not warranted at this time.
Not ruled out by Cleave, however, is the prospect of Discovery-class, low-cost missions sent to Apophis, based on purely scientific arguments, she said.
Indeed, the asteroids orbit is particularly attractive for spacecraft rendezvous, and the extraordinary close encounter in April 2029 provides a unique opportunity to investigate a number of scientific NEO issues, Cleave explained in the letter.
The entire article at SPACE.com (http://www.space.com/news/051103_asteroid_apophis.html). According to the article in Aftonbladet, Nasa is actually considering different strategies to alter the asteroid's course, much like in the moive Armageddon.. I would have linked to it, but it's in Swedish. So, what has everyone heard about this, and what do you comrades think? Please post links and news on the subject in this thread.