America wants to launch ships on meteors

A meteorite can plunge the earth in 2182 and the US Aerospace Agency (NASA) wants to sample rocks on meteorites to accurately calculate its path.

Illustration of a meteorite burning when rubbed against the earth's atmosphere.
(Photo: deathby1000papercuts.com)

Christian Science Monitor reports that the meteorite named 1999 RQ36 collided with the Earth before 2200 is one thousandth. However, the time when the ability to clash between two celestial bodies reached the highest level fell on 24/9/2182. With the largest width of about 560 m, if this meteor hits the earth, the impact will have the same power as several hundred atomic bombs exploding at the same time.

Fox News said NASA wanted to launch a spacecraft to 1999 RQ36 to sample its material. From physical samples scientists can accurately calculate meteorite's orbit and the impact it can cause. The ship launch plan will be announced in the summer of 2011. Then a new generation spacecraft will be launched on asteroids in 2016 and return in 2023.

NASA scientists want to ship the ship to 1999 RQ36 because they think its material has not changed since the solar system was formed. Also its trajectory is relatively favorable for launching ships.

Clark Chapman, an expert on planets of the Southwest Research Institute in the US, said 1999 RQ36 could create a hole about 10 kilometers in diameter, but not destroy the entire civilization on Earth.

Scientists have worked out many measures to deal with meteorites capable of hitting the earth. If a meteorite is made of ice, humans can use giant mirrors to reflect sunlight onto the meteorite that causes it to melt. Another way is to shoot missiles hit meteors to change their trajectories. It is also possible to launch a spacecraft near a meteorite so that the gravitational force between two objects causes the meteorite trajectory to change.