Schoolboy Corrects NASA's Math On Killer Asteroid

jmke · 16th April 2008, 13:32

A German schoolboy, Nico Marquardt, has revised NASA's figures for the chances that the Apophis asteroid will hit earth. Apparently if the asteroid hits a satellite in 2029, its path could be diverted enough to cause it to collide with Earth on the next orbit, in 2036. NASA had calculated the chances as 1 in 45,000 but the 13-year-old, in his science project, made it 1 in 450. NASA agreed

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...vcC5GvbjD4MIOQ

Massman · 16th April 2008, 13:47

Cool ... Nasa got owned.

Not so cool ... an asteroid might hit earth.

16th April 2008, 16:23

we just send some oil miners up there to detonate a nuke in the center of the asteroid ...

Funny that yet again we are the cause of the problem

geoffrey · 16th April 2008, 16:27

if it doesn't hit Earth the first time, then there is a possibility that it might hit it the second time. If it doesn't hit the second time then maybe third time, and if ...

I'm looking forward to meet the Asteroid non-the-less.

16th April 2008, 21:22

Actually, this seems rather unlikely even with the new consideration? The ISS orbits <400km, most satellites are nowhere near 30,000-35,000km.

geoffrey · 16th April 2008, 22:28

Around 1200 so I've red.

16th April 2008, 22:55

Hm, not a bad percentage out of 40,000 tracked objects then. Rather big oversight on NASA's part to not take it into consideration too.

16th April 2008, 13:32	#1
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	Schoolboy Corrects NASA's Math On Killer Asteroid A German schoolboy, Nico Marquardt, has revised NASA's figures for the chances that the Apophis asteroid will hit earth. Apparently if the asteroid hits a satellite in 2029, its path could be diverted enough to cause it to collide with Earth on the next orbit, in 2036. NASA had calculated the chances as 1 in 45,000 but the 13-year-old, in his science project, made it 1 in 450. NASA agreed http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...vcC5GvbjD4MIOQ __________________

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16th April 2008, 13:47	#2
Massman [M] Reviewer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Waregem Posts: 6,466	Cool ... Nasa got owned. Not so cool ... an asteroid might hit earth.

16th April 2008, 16:23	#3
wutske Posts: n/a	we just send some oil miners up there to detonate a nuke in the center of the asteroid ... Funny that yet again we are the cause of the problem

16th April 2008, 16:27	#4
geoffrey [M] Reviewer Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,127	if it doesn't hit Earth the first time, then there is a possibility that it might hit it the second time. If it doesn't hit the second time then maybe third time, and if ... I'm looking forward to meet the Asteroid non-the-less.

16th April 2008, 21:22	#5
Kougar Posts: n/a	Actually, this seems rather unlikely even with the new consideration? The ISS orbits <400km, most satellites are nowhere near 30,000-35,000km.

16th April 2008, 22:28	#6
geoffrey [M] Reviewer Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,127	Around 1200 so I've red.

16th April 2008, 22:55	#7
Kougar Posts: n/a	Hm, not a bad percentage out of 40,000 tracked objects then. Rather big oversight on NASA's part to not take it into consideration too.