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2007-06-28 Science & Technology

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Posted by lotp 2007-06-28 00:00|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Asteroids are believed to be the building blocks of planets - primordial relics left over from the formation of the Solar System 4.6 billion years ago.

Yup, and strange as it sounds, its well worth the money to analyse these tumbling rocks to understand their constitution. A solid comprehension of this solar system's original makeup could contribute to massive advances in our understanding of the Big Bang causality. Knowledge of that has already enhanced everything from automotive engine efficiency to thermal barrier technology. There is no ignoring how asteroids will become the most plentiful source of heavy metals and other rare earth elements once their local extraction has become too damaging to our globe.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-06-28 05:28|| 2007-06-28 05:28|| Front Page Top

#2 Aye, Zenster. It may seem pie-in-the-sky to some, but gaining information about these things could lead to future commerce and opportunity.

The tired old argument that we have to fix every single problem here on Earth before we spend an iota of energy in space falls flat on its face. We'll always have problems here. The money spent to look for resources in our nearby astronomical vicinity is an investment; the potential yield is too great to ignore simply in the name of our species' imperfections.

Posted by no mo uro 2007-06-28 06:07|| 2007-06-28 06:07|| Front Page Top

#3 Aye, Zenster. It may seem pie-in-the-sky to some, but gaining information about these things could lead to future commerce and opportunity.

The tired old argument that we have to fix every single problem here on Earth before we spend an iota of energy in space falls flat on its face. We'll always have problems here. The money spent to look for resources in our nearby astronomical vicinity is an investment; the potential yield is too great to ignore simply in the name of our species' imperfections.

Posted by no mo uro 2007-06-28 06:07|| 2007-06-28 06:07|| Front Page Top

#4 Sorry for the double post.

Posted by no mo uro 2007-06-28 06:07|| 2007-06-28 06:07|| Front Page Top

#5 Sorry for the double post.

Fear not, no mo uro, my spare personalities always appreciate the extra support.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-06-28 06:19|| 2007-06-28 06:19|| Front Page Top

#6 "It's raining soup out there and we don't have a bowl"

Larry Niven

Worse, our politicians are too stupid or evil to pay for one. Fortunately there is another way to get there. I think private enterprise space programs will be unstoppable within ten years.

Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2007-06-28 06:40|| 2007-06-28 06:40|| Front Page Top

#7 I'm sorry, Mr. Columbus, we can't afford your voyage to the New World - we have too many problems right here in Spain. Maybe in 1494.

Posted by Queen Isabella 2007-06-28 07:43|| 2007-06-28 07:43|| Front Page Top

#8 All I want is exclusive licence for importing flat cats to the Belt.

Posted by gromgoru 2007-06-28 08:29|| 2007-06-28 08:29|| Front Page Top

#9 AC, I don't think that's an either/or proposition.

Posted by AlanC">AlanC 2007-06-28 08:54|| 2007-06-28 08:54|| Front Page Top

#10 Plus, once we start mining asteroids, we can arrange for a small one to wonder off track and "accidentally" hit Mecca! They worship a space rock, imagine how delighted they would be to get more!

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2007-06-28 09:30|| 2007-06-28 09:30|| Front Page Top

#11 Right there with you Darth. Just be sure to have an IMAX crew orbiting overhead for the show. I want to be able to watch the whole thing in slo-mo.

Posted by Excalibur 2007-06-28 10:07|| 2007-06-28 10:07|| Front Page Top

#12 I'm trying to figure why an asteroid would need a constitution, I believes most of them are sole-proprietor ships.

Posted by Shipman 2007-06-28 10:50|| 2007-06-28 10:50|| Front Page Top

#13 They worship a space rock, imagine how delighted they would be to get more!

Goodness knows that Islam needs some sort of explanation for its meteoric rise in popularity. Betcha' can't ~~eat~~ worship just one! Any way we can arrange for its arrival to coincide with the Haj? Going for the twofer here.

Posted by Zenster">Zenster 2007-06-28 15:30|| 2007-06-28 15:30|| Front Page Top

#14 AlanC, I didn't state an either/or proposition. Nowhere did I say that one proposition excludes the other.

Posted by Atomic Conspiracy 2007-06-28 16:01|| 2007-06-28 16:01|| Front Page Top

#15 I'd like to see the Haliburton Asteroid Deflection Division put one into Mecca.

Posted by BrerRabbit 2007-06-28 17:32|| 2007-06-28 17:32|| Front Page Top

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