Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Asteroid attack: Putting Earth's defences to the test (Air Force runs "72hrs Warning" scenario)
New Scientist ^ | 23 September 2009 | David Shiga

Posted on 09/24/2009 8:05:16 AM PDT by presidio9

IT LOOKS inconsequential enough, the faint little spot moving leisurely across the sky. The mountain-top telescope that just detected it is taking it very seriously, though. It is an asteroid, one never seen before. Rapid-survey telescopes discover thousands of asteroids every year, but there's something very particular about this one. The telescope's software decides to wake several human astronomers with a text message they hoped they would never receive. The asteroid is on a collision course with Earth. It is the size of a skyscraper and it's big enough to raze a city to the ground. Oh, and it will be here in three days.

Far-fetched it might seem, but this scenario is all too plausible. Certainly it is realistic enough that the US air force recently brought together scientists, military officers and emergency-response officials for the first time to assess the nation's ability to cope, should it come to pass.

They were asked to imagine how their respective organisations would respond to a mythical asteroid called Innoculatus striking the Earth after just three days' warning. The asteroid consisted of two parts: a pile of rubble 270 metres across which was destined to splash down in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa, and a 50-metre-wide rock heading, in true Hollywood style, directly for Washington DC.

The exercise, which took place in December 2008, exposed the chilling dangers asteroids pose. Not only is there no plan for what to do when an asteroid hits, but our early-warning systems - which could make the difference between life and death - are woefully inadequate. The meeting provided just the wake-up call organiser Peter Garreston had hoped to create. He has long been concerned about the threat of an impact. "As a taxpayer,

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


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: asteroids
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last
To: presidio9

HEY!!!!!! i remember this game....


21 posted on 09/24/2009 8:50:08 AM PDT by joe fonebone (I am racist, hear me roar....I don't give a crap anymore....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

50-metre-wide rock heading, in true Hollywood style, directly for Washington DC.

Works for me....


22 posted on 09/24/2009 8:56:41 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Right Brother

Well, you got a higher score anyway...


23 posted on 09/24/2009 9:04:23 AM PDT by presidio9 ("Don't shoot. Let 'em burn.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: GonzoGOP

bruce willis could....lol...


24 posted on 09/24/2009 9:07:14 AM PDT by tatsinfla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: GonzoGOP

Unlikely anyone would survive, and the survivors would no doubt consider themselves the big losers.


25 posted on 09/24/2009 9:08:52 AM PDT by dragnet2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: neverdem; sionnsar; Buckeye McFrog
50-metre-wide rock heading, in true Hollywood style, directly for Washington DC.

Nope. 8<)

You need eight or nine smallish rocks. (Tunguska was only 100 years ago!) (There's along way between SFO, LA, DC, Detroit, NYC, Boston, Miami, and West CT. 8<)

/sarchasm = the gaping whole between a democrat and reality.

26 posted on 09/24/2009 9:09:03 AM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: xkaydet65

Hammer was coauthored by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven.


27 posted on 09/24/2009 9:38:41 AM PDT by Rifleman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: KevinDavis

Space PING!!!


28 posted on 09/24/2009 10:41:01 AM PDT by Thunder90 (Fighting for truth and the American way... http://citizensfortruthandtheamericanway.blogspot.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson