How to test a 200 MT nuclear bomb? - Page 2

3point14 · 23rd February 2012, 09:55 AM

I put this:

Originally Posted by 3point14

This might be a derail, but are we in a position to respond to an impending asteroid strike? How much notice would we need, with the technology we have, to do anything about it?

In another thread. It was pointed out it might be more appropriate here. I'm torn, so I've left it in both.

Verde · 23rd February 2012, 10:55 AM

If you need somewhere to test it, the obvious place would be Slough.

If it is good enough for the Poet Laureate it's fine with me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slough_(poem)

Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough!
It isn't fit for humans now,
There isn't grass to graze a cow.
Swarm over, Death!

V.

Roboramma · 23rd February 2012, 03:53 PM

One idea for asteroid deflection that may require less energy, but a lot more finesse, than the suggestions already made:

Find a much smaller asteroid whose trajectory takes it relatively close to the one that presents a danger. Deflect that such that it hits it.

Why? Because the second asteroid likely has a high delta v with relation to the danger asteroid. Thus, there's a lot of free energy there, we just have to make use of it. A small course alteration on a small asteroid is less energy intensive than a small course alteration on big one.

Of course, this plan requires a great deal of luck in that there is a small asteroid whose trajectory takes it close enough to our big one to make it feasible. And it also requires that we can make that course alteration with enough accuracy to actually make them hit, which I really doubt at present.

Originally I thought of this as a way to move asteroids around in which you've got plenty of time and can choose your targets from the whole assortment available, rather than this type of emergency scenario. For instance, if you wanted to mine an asteroid, you'd have plenty to choose from, so find one whose trajectory take it close to another fast moving small asteroid, and work on the small one to hit it just right... if you've got a decade or so to wait for their orbits to line up, I suspect this sort of thing could be done.

WhatRoughBeast · 23rd February 2012, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by Roboramma

Find a much smaller asteroid whose trajectory takes it relatively close to the one that presents a danger. Deflect that such that it hits it.

And, of course, you need to be able to make a very fine judgement about the resulting debris field. If the debris is guaranteed to be small enough, that part of the field which impacts earth will burn up in the atmosphere. Otherwise, you may have traded one big impact for a bunch of mediun impacts, and that is not guaranteed to work well.

Roboramma · 23rd February 2012, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by WhatRoughBeast

And, of course, you need to be able to make a very fine judgement about the resulting debris field. If the debris is guaranteed to be small enough, that part of the field which impacts earth will burn up in the atmosphere. Otherwise, you may have traded one big impact for a bunch of mediun impacts, and that is not guaranteed to work well.

Well, I was thinking that the hit would deflect the entire debris field away, but you're right, that's not a given.

23rd February 2012, 09:55 AM	#41
3point14 Pi Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London ish Posts: 3,594	I put this: Originally Posted by 3point14 This might be a derail, but are we in a position to respond to an impending asteroid strike? How much notice would we need, with the technology we have, to do anything about it? In another thread. It was pointed out it might be more appropriate here. I'm torn, so I've left it in both.
	__________________ Cull the delusional.

23rd February 2012, 10:55 AM	#42
Verde Muse Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Where the jackalopes roam. Posts: 817	If you need somewhere to test it, the obvious place would be Slough. If it is good enough for the Poet Laureate it's fine with me. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slough_(poem) Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough! It isn't fit for humans now, There isn't grass to graze a cow. Swarm over, Death! V.
	__________________ It makes sense, if you don't think about it. - T-Mobile ad You're innocent when you dream. - Tom Waits Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool. - Samuel Clemens Last edited by Verde; 23rd February 2012 at 10:58 AM.

23rd February 2012, 03:53 PM	#43
Roboramma Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shanghai Posts: 7,094	One idea for asteroid deflection that may require less energy, but a lot more finesse, than the suggestions already made: Find a much smaller asteroid whose trajectory takes it relatively close to the one that presents a danger. Deflect that such that it hits it. Why? Because the second asteroid likely has a high delta v with relation to the danger asteroid. Thus, there's a lot of free energy there, we just have to make use of it. A small course alteration on a small asteroid is less energy intensive than a small course alteration on big one. Of course, this plan requires a great deal of luck in that there is a small asteroid whose trajectory takes it close enough to our big one to make it feasible. And it also requires that we can make that course alteration with enough accuracy to actually make them hit, which I really doubt at present. Originally I thought of this as a way to move asteroids around in which you've got plenty of time and can choose your targets from the whole assortment available, rather than this type of emergency scenario. For instance, if you wanted to mine an asteroid, you'd have plenty to choose from, so find one whose trajectory take it close to another fast moving small asteroid, and work on the small one to hit it just right... if you've got a decade or so to wait for their orbits to line up, I suspect this sort of thing could be done.
	__________________ "... when people thought the Earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the Earth was spherical they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the Earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the Earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together." Isaac Asimov

23rd February 2012, 04:07 PM	#44
WhatRoughBeast Muse Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 817	Originally Posted by Roboramma Find a much smaller asteroid whose trajectory takes it relatively close to the one that presents a danger. Deflect that such that it hits it. And, of course, you need to be able to make a very fine judgement about the resulting debris field. If the debris is guaranteed to be small enough, that part of the field which impacts earth will burn up in the atmosphere. Otherwise, you may have traded one big impact for a bunch of mediun impacts, and that is not guaranteed to work well.
WhatRoughBeast Muse Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 817

23rd February 2012, 04:20 PM	#45
Roboramma Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shanghai Posts: 7,094	Originally Posted by WhatRoughBeast And, of course, you need to be able to make a very fine judgement about the resulting debris field. If the debris is guaranteed to be small enough, that part of the field which impacts earth will burn up in the atmosphere. Otherwise, you may have traded one big impact for a bunch of mediun impacts, and that is not guaranteed to work well. Well, I was thinking that the hit would deflect the entire debris field away, but you're right, that's not a given.
	__________________ "... when people thought the Earth was flat, they were wrong. When people thought the Earth was spherical they were wrong. But if you think that thinking the Earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the Earth is flat, then your view is wronger than both of them put together." Isaac Asimov