A large meteor is heading for our planet. can you help?

Question

The meteor is clearly seen. Yahoo are so impressed by your answers they know only your ideas can save us, let's have them!

Don't let me down, I'm on the promise of something good Monday...

Hi John D,
I was named after one of the daughters of Priam.
She had the gift of phophesy and of course, you already know the curse was, she was never to be believed.

I tell you this phophesy late, I knew the meteor was coming long before I saw it.

I had an idea you wouldn't trust me, now look what you've done, were doomed.

Arrrrrrrugh!

Hi Chuckler, I knew you would believe me, pray away, we need all the help we can get!

With thanks Cassandra

Hi Patsy,
try relaxing in the cupboard under the stairs.
It won't help, but at least you are taking cover. Remember, in films, it always turns out for the best.

Oh dear, we're not in a film are we?

Thanks for answering

Hi Everyone. GOOD MORNING!
'Tis early Sunday and I am still not able to rate all the answers. Strange thing is, you can rate them, log off, and when you log back in the ratings have gone

I haven't given anyone thumbs down, instead, I am enjoying reading your replies.

I guess the meteor will solve the rating problem;-]

Answer 1

We should round up all the politicians in one place, the release of hot air should be enough to alter the Earths orbit just enough for the meteor to avoid hitting us.

kby

Answer 2

If we were stupid enough to wait until the "meteor is clearly seen" heading for our planet with only hours to spare, our best chance of averting a disaster is to ameliorate the impact by hitting it with our Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicles (EKVs). By breaking up the incoming meteor, it will increase chances that most of the fragments will burn up in the atmosphere, while few of the larger masses will end up producing far smaller impacts spread out over a wider area. Civilization will then survive for another day, even though indubitably some adjustments will have to be made, and perhaps this could even be the cure for global warming. Here's a link to EKVs, already tested and now part of our national defense system, ideal for hitting very fast moving targets in space. The trouble with conventional ICBMs is that they're not well suited for targeting meteors.

Of course, if the meteor is the same size as the one that killed off the dinosaurs, we have a problem.

Answer 3

It depends how large the meteor is, if we are talking about an E.L.E then the only option open to you to escape is to leave the planet and very few people are in a position to do that at the moment and not at distances and time for it to do any good.

If we start building now we might be able to get deep enough underground to build a Brave New World - a la War Of The Worlds - the original; not the awful American films but we'd have to start now because we'd need hydroponic bays; oxygen recycling plants etc. Although there are some very large caves, they'd need totally renovating in order to make them habitable for humans.

Then you'd have to decide who to take. All the best minds, most creative people and natural leaders are the first choice but you'd need ordinary people and children. Above all, you'd need fertile people. If all your best minds and creative types and leaders are all over child bearing age, they're useless.

I wouldn't have a place for instance because I can't have children and am getting past the child bearing years anyway. I have a high intellect but its nothing outstanding and, whilst my creativity has been admired, it's not astounding ... so, I'd like a one way ticket to Ground Zero please.

Answer 4

Maybe some sort of high-tech rocket guided towards the meteor with a drilling-head attached to bore itself deep into the surface. At this point, another part of the rocket expels some kind of non-stick, hardening fluid, which creates some sort of mass that quickly becomes heavier (though not necessarily larger) than the meteor itself. As this is happening, and before this liquid material hardens, another part of the device is injected into this liquid which then creates an anchoring mechanism between the meteor and the liquid. Before long, the path of the meteor has it's course to hit Earth changed due to the anchor that has now attached itself.

Destruction of Planet Earth completely avoided. :)

Answer 5

The solution entirely depends on (1) how big and (2) how long until impact, and to some extent on (3) the particular orbit of the meteor.

There are no known "large" meteor strikes expected in the next few decades, according to NASA.

Answer 6

I many times do no longer decide to solutions terrorists, yet right here is going. A meteor, or greater wisely out of your description asteroid, would be viewable my all. different independant astonomers would be waiting to view it and we'd understand for a reality right here. one million. It exists 2. Its length (dimentions) 3. some stable theory of its composition 4. Its orbiatal trend around the solar and characteristic stable projections as to how close it woud come to the earth. those, interior particular parameters does not be debatable. What would be debateable often is the accuracy of projected opportunities for hitting the earth on a given date. This being mentioned i'd help analyze into ysstems and applications for diverting or destroying mentioned styles of threats NOW even without your difficulty. why? Becuase it has occurred amny situations earlier, so all of us understand that's going to take place lower back. the sole quesiton is while. additionally, mentioned analyze would have different and useful advantages to society and the human difficulty as the style of analyze and progression consistently has different ancillary advantages. (area software further approximately the form of pc's between a hundred's of alternative technological advancements) For believing the scientists. an area of me would consistently be skeptical. it relatively is in my nature. even though being waiting to work out the prospect and understand mentioned experience have occurrec interior the previous i'd call for our government. take some style of action a minimum of in part for reasons I even have reported above. worst case difficulty, we learn very much greater and take some huge leaps in the direction of beginning area up for comercialization.

Answer 7

assuming it evaded detection and is within approach within a few hrs,and is of considerable size, the option of last resort would be launching simultaneous thermonuclear missiles directly at the asteroid and hope for the best, otherwise doomsday and total annihilation of life

Answer 8

I think that if we can organize the peope of the world to simultaneously jump up and down in place, we can nudge the Earth out of the meteor's path. Can you coordinate your hemisphere's population while I work with the other?
We can do this.

Answer 9

Hi Cassandra,How are you?
I think in a situation like this only help from God would save us-so the best thing would be to pray.

Answer 10

If we know about it long enough in advance, I'd suggest firing a large nuclear warhead at it to blow it to pieces at as large a distance from the earth as possible.