Divert Apophis?
Department:
Asteroid Impacts
Teaser:
"A flotilla of solar sail spacecraft could change the course of the asteroid Apophis - which is headed a little too close to Earth for comfort"
Source:
SPACE.com Download time: Dec 22 2010 10:47 AM ET
A flotilla of solar sail spacecraft could change the course of the asteroid Apophis — which is headed a little too close to Earth for comfort — by shading the space rock from solar radiation, according to a French researcher.
Such a plan could help shift Apophis into a slightly safer orbit by the time it is expected to swing by Earth on April 13, 2036. But experts have warned previously that any efforts to divert the space rock could actually make matters worse.
The preliminary concept idea was proposed at a symposium on solar sails – which are spacecraft powered by sunlight pushing against a sail – a few months ago at the New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn.…
See SPACE.com for links to further info.
