asteroid research?

Question

should the government spend research money on programs to search for asteroids and comets with earth crossing orbits?

Answer 1

As long as that, and that alone is what the money is being spent on, SURE! It's hard to get behind projects like these nowadays because agencies/people have so many ulterior motives, such as asking for money for to research some cataclysmic disaster when they're really using the money to help themselves.

Answer 2

Absolutely; it is possible to move an asteroid from a trajectory that causes it to slam into the Earth if scientists find out about it and have enough time to use a tactical nuclear missile detonation in front of it if it is a solid object or even solar sails to catch the solar wind and push an object. If no one is looking for an object nothing will be done to protect the planet until after millions if not billions of innocent people are slaughtered by an impact and the subsequent global nuclear winter that will destroy the ability to grow food.

Answer 3

Yes. The system that they use to identify NEO (Near Earth Objects) stresses working with amateur astronomers. Which get to name their discovery and are given a four hundred dollar award. Why is it a good idea that people understand were all of the NEO are? If you know were they are you know when they will hit. Most likely they will hit the Pacific Ocean which means people would be only have to be evacuated similar to how they do with tsunamis. The more for warning the less lost of life and property.

Answer 4

No, because if a big one hits, we're screwed anyway. They should spend the money on a good bag of chips and some margaritas for the Nasa boys instead.

Answer 5

Given the magnitude of the disaster should such and object strike the earth, it's very cheap insurance.

Answer 6

No. Anything large enough to cause damage passed the atmosphere is an unlikely phenomenon.