[FPSPACE] Looking for a vision

[Jens Kieffer-Olsen]

-----Original Message-----
From: E.P. Grondine [mailto:epgrondine at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2009 6:19 PM

> > > When I started reporting on the NEO hazard,
> > > both George Brown Jr. and Eugene Shoemaker
> > > were still alive. I never thought that some
> > > 12 years later senior NASA management would
> > > still be doing its best to avoid dealing with
> > > this hazard.
> >
> > That's because NASA should only be concerned
> > with detecting NEOs and not at this stage be
> > directed to consider deflecting anything. When
> > given such a dual direction, critics of NASA
> > are in effect given carte blanche to argue that
> > not enough funds go to deflection preparedness.
>
> No it isn't a lack of clear instructions 
> concerning detection/deflection. 
> There are several reasons for NASA's lack of
> action. 

 Well, let's examine H.R.6063 in some detail.

 Sec. 802 (7):
 
 (7) As a first step to eliminate and to mitigate
 the risk of such collisions, situation and decision
 analysis processes, as well as procedures and system
 resources, must be in place well before a collision
 threat becomes known.

 JKO: That's phantasy bullshit. The possible scenarios
      are just too many. Only AFTER a collision threat
      is identified would it be meaningful to spend
      funds on mitigation. Besides, chances are that no
      mitigation is required until so many years from
      now that future technology can be relied on.  
   
 Sec. 804 (2):

  ... recommend a Federal agency or agencies to be
      responsible for--
(A) protecting the United States from a near-Earth object
    that is expected to collide with Earth; and
(B) implementing a deflection campaign, in consultation
    with international bodies, should one be necessary.

 JKO: More SF bullshit. Would suit an Act dealing with
      how we should react to a hypothetical SETI
      breakthrough, but just doesn't belong in a
      National Aeronautics and Space Administration
      Authorization Act.

 Sec. 807:

 It is the sense of Congress that, since an estimated
 25,000 asteroids of concern have yet to be discovered
 and monitored, the United States should seek to obtain
 commitments for cooperation from other nations with
 significant resources for contributing to a thorough
 and timely search for such objects and an identification
 of their characteristics. 

 JKO: That's the important thing and on the peanut side
      economically. So why on Earth prevaricate here, 
      Mr. Congressman and Ms. Congresslady? Why all of
      a sudden exhibit an ostrich mentality? 

      And hey, what happened to the need to search for
      cometary fragments? That's an area where deep
      thinking is immediately relevant, as opposed to
      the plans for toying around with gravity tractors
      and asteroid tugs pulling and pushing harmless
      miniature rocks to and fro.

--
Jens Kieffer-Olsen
Slagelse, Denmark