how to stop a meteor?

Answer 1

I found this paper just today on MADMEN: http://www.sei.aero/downloads/SEI_LOEM_30March2004.pdf

The concept is to send a 1 ton robotic, nuclear powered robotic spacecraft to an asteroid and have it drill into that asteroid and use a magnetic accelerator to shoot that ore out, providing thrust. If you put enough MADMEN on the job then they will be able to move the asteroid.

A former astronaut suggests just placing a spacecraft near the asteroid long enough would have enough of a gravitational effect to pull the asteroid slightly off course.

Painting it a reflective color would push it at a different rate as well. Putting a huge Mylar mirror only a millimeter thick would use the light and energy from the sun to move an asteroid. You could also use a mirror and concentrate the light into a beam to cook the asteroid the vaporizing rock would form a gas and that would provide a minor push to it.

The longer you have to work on it the easier and less energy it will take to move an asteroid around. Some interesting ideas to do with asteroids are to put one in an orbit around the earth and the moon to create a space ferry, or sent it to orbit the sun between Mars and the Earth for a long haul space ferry. Or park it in an earth orbit and mine it for new metals, then use the empty mine shafts to live in and create a do-it-yourself space station. If you park it at L5 = a gravitational stable point in the earth moon system then it would stay there with no need for booster rockets. The danger of a solar flare could kill the crew on a long term mission, like to Mars, but if you had an asteroid shielding you then it would be much safer.

About the worst thing you can do is to try and throw a bomb at the asteroid. If you used anything less than a multibillion ton nuclear explosive then you would just spread the asteroid all over the earth not changing the disaster, only spreading it out.

Answer 2

You can't stop a meteor until it impacts on something larger than itself. But you can change its orbit by hiting it with enough force to change its path.

Answer 3

If it is large enough to get through the atmosphere, it cannot be stopped except by contact with the earth.

Answer 4

Our atmosphere is usually enough.
If one does get through, though, nothing can stop it but contact.

Answer 5

poke it with a giant finger

Answer 6

Use somthing like a huge magnet to push it away.

Answer 7

call bruce willis.

Answer 8

its impossible too stop one if you tryed u would burn up.