Guided Asteroid Weapon

Originally posted by zorgon

Originally posted by Brother Stormhammer
Is it possible to use an asteroid as a weapon? Not really.

You sure?

NATURAL METEOROIDS AS WEAPONS
www.rand.org...

Not that we would ever think of such things

Bad word choice on my part, perhaps. Of course, it's possible in theory to use asteroids as weapons. I've seen Meteor Crater, so I'm rather aware that they can make big holes. Perhaps I should have said "Not really in a practical sense". Even the study you linked to points out that discussions of asteroid weapons are more of academic interest than practical use.

Originally posted by krs678
reply to post by BlueRidge

 

do you think if the hubble telescope was aimed at the sun and other end opened, it could magnify the suns rays and make a beam capable of deflecting a meteor ? like magnifing glass and paper on a sunny day. its just a thought ?

The Hubble Space Telescope is a reflecting instrument, not a refracting one. Opening up the back end of the telescope housing will expose instrument bays, and beyond those, the back of the mirror cradle, all of which are opaque. Even if it weren't, there's no 'magnifying' lens in the front of the tube...so it won't work as a 'fire starter' lens.

All I can think of is the size of the Asteroid needed for this to work. It's size need's to be just right otherwise it would just burn up upon entree of the Earths atmosphere. This is also a bad thing because if they caught the right size and used it, it would cause world wise issues. Good idea tho OP, However I don't think any Government would risk a blanket of dust that blocks out the sun for the whole planet....Unless they want 2012 to come true.