Russia considering sending spacecraft to knock asteroid off path and prevent Earth collision

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-eu-russia-asteroid-encounter,0,5924132.story

VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

Associated Press Writer

5:18 p.m. CST, December 30, 2009

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's space agency chief said Wednesday a spacecraft may be dispatched to knock a large asteroid off course and reduce the chances of earth impact, even though U.S. scientists say such a scenario is unlikely.

Anatoly Perminov told Golos Rossii radio the space agency would hold a meeting soon to assess a mission to Apophis. He said his agency might eventually invite NASA, the European Space Agency, the Chinese space agency and others to join the project.

When the 270-meter (885-foot) asteroid was first discovered in 2004, astronomers estimated its chances of smashing into Earth in its first flyby, in 2029, at 1-in-37.

Further studies have ruled out the possibility of an impact in 2029, when the asteroid is expected to come no closer than 18,300 miles (29,450 kilometers) from Earth's surface, but they indicated a small possibility of a hit on subsequent encounters.

[MichaelHarris]

1. What if

they F&%$ up and bump it closer to my house? You know those Russians, they always mess stuff up.

[MetaTrope]

2. The heck with whatever the odds might be

It's a fine, dramatic scientific experiment.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Hmmmm

this sounds like the plot for a movie. :shrug:

[Xipe Totec]

4. Translation: We can hit your satellites anytime we want, and we're going to show you

Nothing like a technology demonstration to make a point.

[notesdev]

5. If it lands on Washington DC, we'll forgive