Deflecting Incoming Asteroids with Paintballs
26 Oct 2012, 11:48 UTC
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An artist’s rendering of the asteroid Apophis. Credit: ESAWhat would be a way to deflect asteroid Apophis if it gets a little too close for comfort in 2029 or 2036? Pew-pew it with 5 tons of white paintballs. Not only would the multiple mini impacts bump the asteroid off course, but the white paint would cover the surface and reflect more sunlight, and over time, the bouncing of photons off its surface could create enough of a force to push the asteroid off its course. (...)Read the rest of Deflecting Incoming Asteroids with Paintballs (601 words)© nancy for Universe Today, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Post tags: Apophis, Asteroid 2012 DA14, Asteroids Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh
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