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Possible threat to Earth by asteroids among issues at UN debate on outer space
The Sofia Echo ^ | Friday, October 15, 2010 | staff

Posted on 10/16/2010 5:10:54 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

A United Nations working group is currently looking into how the UN should respond to possible threats to the planet from near-earth objects, such as asteroids, Mazlan Othman, the Director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York on October 14 2010, the UN News Service said.

She said that the working group -- within the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space -- is expected to come up with recommendations which would be presented to the General Assembly for UN member states to make a decision on response to near-earth objects...

She said the Vienna-based Committee is also discussing space debris, among other issues, and long-term sustainability of space exploration... Other topics on the Committee’s agenda include benefits of space technology, space and water, and space and climate change.

She said she could not rule out the possibility that some kind of life may exist somewhere in outer space, given the large number of galaxies and extra-solar planets out there... adding that she believed that if that was indeed the case, the UN, through UNOOSA would then support UN member states in discussing the issue.

(Excerpt) Read more at sofiaecho.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: asteroid; asteroids; catastrophism
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To: DBrow

Are you crazy?!

One average near-earth asteroid contains enough platinum group metal ore equal in wealth to the entire world’s annual product. That, my friend, is a hell of a lot of moolah.

In France, farmers took to eating snails as a way to control pests in their vegetable gardens. That is a good idea to emulate. We should treat asteroids the same way French farmers treat snails - consume them!

Besides, there is a lot of money to be made out in space. To Hell with space tourism.


21 posted on 10/16/2010 8:36:14 PM PDT by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS OUR PRESIDENT!)
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To: SatinDoll

I’m all in favor of asteroid mining. I’ve advocated it here and other places for years.

I was commenting on how much military/political power you’d have if you could land a big rock wherever you wanted, from city-killers to making a continent or two lifeless.

The UN will NEVER mine space. But let them land Tunguska on those who don’t go along and they’ll sign up, for the children.


22 posted on 10/16/2010 8:41:54 PM PDT by DBrow
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To: Beowulf9

;’)


23 posted on 10/16/2010 9:25:05 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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To: DBrow

Yer not just a-kiddin’.

A 100-yard diameter rock could be parked at, say, L5, and held in reserve. While it would not be a quick launch, giving it a push using a really large plasma drive (not yet demoed) at just the right time and in the correct direction would deliver it basically without warning to a target area.

Wouldn’t have to be basketball-hoop accurate.

Boom! Major city erased.

And it would look like a natural event.


24 posted on 10/16/2010 9:29:43 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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To: seawolf101

Now *that* is an evil-looking face.


25 posted on 10/16/2010 9:30:47 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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To: SunkenCiv

I think Barringer was a 100 meter rock- it probably wiped everything in a 200 mile circle!


26 posted on 10/16/2010 9:39:35 PM PDT by DBrow
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To: DBrow

It was something like that in size I think you’re right. I’d like to read a definitive dating of the impact event, which may have been a handful of thousands of years, or in excess of 20K.


27 posted on 10/17/2010 8:35:57 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
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To: seawolf101

Gore is involved with asteroid delfection? Is that why his hooker (john) alias is Mr. Stone?


28 posted on 10/17/2010 8:39:35 AM PDT by catfish1957 (Hey algore...You'll have to pry the steering wheel of my 317 HP V8 truck from my cold dead hands)
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