From Bullwinkle Blog, this little newsbyte:
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - An asteroid may come uncomfortably close to Earth in 2036 and the United Nations should assume responsibility for a space mission to deflect it, a group of astronauts, engineers and scientists said on Saturday.
Astronomers are monitoring an asteroid named Apophis, which has a 1 in 45,000 chance of striking Earth on April 13, 2036.
Guess who’s going to pay for it.
Myrtle says:
Ayup. 1 in 45,000 chance of an occurrence and how much do they want to spend?
And which group of actuaries is valuing this risk?
Let me guess. A bunch of sci-fi boys see their funding getting cut and have to figure out a different way of justifying their high-tech toys to the public. Very creative thinking. Next my ten year old will tell me that I have to let him develop hand eye coordination on his video games because it’s training he’ll need to defend the world from an asteroid when he’s grown.
February 19, 2007, 12:34 pmPam says:
If the UN is in charge of deflecting an asteroid, say your prayers now.
February 19, 2007, 1:25 pmfidothedog says:
Oh god no that! Don’t put the UN in charge of it, half the money will vanish into the pockets of Kofi’s son, it will spiral out of control cost wise, the contracts will go to friends/relations of top UN staff, then it still wont be ready by the time the asteroid hits or misses us.
Mind you based on our last Mars mission that went splatt on the Mars surface, think its best we Brits leave it to you Yanks to build the big rock ass kicker.
February 19, 2007, 2:11 pmDoghouse says:
Isn’t Bruce Willis supposed to take care of this?
February 19, 2007, 6:49 pmjimmyb says:
Yeah, if Bruce isn’t on the commision, I’m outta here.
February 19, 2007, 8:42 pm