Nuking Asteroids

In the near future space exploration will ideally increase. We need tools for space. Nuclear bombs make great tools in space. They are lightweight and can deliver lots of energy. Other energy delivery tools in space may include lasers and kinetic impactors. These tools might be useful for deflecting asteroids, displacing mass, imparting energy, and/or adjusting momentum.

To deflect an asteroid, I believe nuclear bombs and kinetic impactors are the fastest two tools. Other deflection ideas like solar sails, gravity deflectors, and attaching booster rockets are large, slow, and/or massive. The European Space Agency is currently working on an asteroid momentum adjustment program using a kinetic impactor (Don Quijote probe).

Nuclear bombs are lightweight and powerful. I believe they make excellent tools in space. I believe in space exploration. I believe the use of this tool in space exploration is twentyish years away. The possible use of this tool in asteroid deflection could be anytime. I believe modern research is needed for the nuclear bomb tool. I believe if humans could deflect a global-killer asteroid, like that which caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, it would be one of life’s greatest accomplishments, ranking just below evolution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid-impact_avoidance

The nuking section of this wikipedia page cites Islands in Space (which I haven’t read) and Project Icarus, a 1968 MIT student project in systems engineering. Chapter 3: Nuclear detonation and interaction, references The Effects of Nuclear Weapons, Glasstone, for the effects of the bomb and interaction with the asteroid. I believe Glasstone's work is most applicable on earth. It does not discuss nuclear bombs in outer space. I believe the interaction of the bomb with the atmosphere is a significant difference between on-earth and in-space shots. At least two nuclear bombs have been detonated in space, but I do not know much about them.

So, perhaps someone should get a PhD: Modeling the interaction of nuclear bombs on asteroids, investigating methods to improve bomb efficiency using reflectors and existing craters, and/or updating chapter 3 of Project Icarus to include new models, new technology (better clocks, sensors).

-- Mike

Selected Representatives

A constitution allowing all citizens to choose their congressperson or become a congressperson.

The 435, or so, congresspersons with the most citizens having their votes casted by the congressperson on the citizen's behalf will be invited to use Congress's area in the Capitol building. To ease the transition, the current 435 congresspersons will be registered initially as the congresspersons representing those they currently represent.

Citizens can change the congressperson voting on the citizen's behalf at any time using the web service, snailmail service, or at any government building.

If any legislation remains in the top 20, or so, most importantly ranked legislative ideas for 50, or so, days then all congresspersons must vote within 20, or so, days. Congresspersons failing one such vote are then unable to vote for 50, or so, days.

Any citizen or congressperson can cast legislation importance votes at any time. Congresspersons can vote at any time. Legislation with a majority of all able votes is sent to the President for veto/approval.

I envision the web service as similar to a forum website with a voting area. I envision the snailmail service as similar to the current booklets given out to voters with additional information about the status of support for different legislative ideas. Government buildings would provide access to both.

Like all ideas, this is incomplete.

Those willing to, might.

Peace -- Mike