I'm impressed at this great feat of European cooperation.

 

I wonder what this also means in view of the possibilities of in the future being able to divert these objects, and thus prevent them from hitting earth? For I guess one this size would constitute a wee problem when its remains hit Amsterdam?

Except that the chosen orbital body is not an asteroid. Comets generally burn up in the atmosphere.

Except that the chosen orbital body is not an asteroid. Comets generally burn up in the atmosphere.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_winter

 

Well, if we can land on a 4 km comet we should be able to do so on a 5 km one. Yet I guess a 4 km one like this and according to this Wikipedia be it an asteroid or comet doesn't make a great difference when sizes like this are involved. Asteroids are seen by most as spent comets. And these will ruin a lot of peoples day on impact. So, this landing at least also shows it is feasible to get a technical device of sorts and land it on the comet and or asteroid. That at least then is a beginning of subsequently figuring out what to actually land on the thing in order to deflect it. See the links at the end of the page.

Anyone know how much of a handicap the lander has because it is not attached to the comet, but only resting on the surface?

 

When the comet gets close to the Sun, outgassing will blast that lander off into space in a random direction, and blow away Rosetta as well.

Except that the chosen orbital body is not an asteroid. Comets generally burn up in the atmosphere.

 

I've never heard that said about LARGE comets. They are generally just as much a threat as large asteroids

Edited November 14, 201411 yr by Airbrush

Anyone know how much of a handicap the lander has because it is not attached to the comet, but only resting on the surface?

 

When the comet gets close to the Sun, outgassing will blast that lander off into space in a random direction, and blow away Rosetta as well.

 

 

I've never heard that said about LARGE comets. They are generally just as much a threat as large asteroids

Exactly. A 4 km wide comet hitting the Earth at say 50 km/sec (comet moving at ~40 km/sec crossing Earth orbit at 90 degrees) would release almost 1800 times as much energy as the Krakatoa eruption.

Exactly. A 4 km wide comet hitting the Earth at say 50 km/sec (comet moving at ~40 km/sec crossing Earth orbit at 90 degrees) would release almost 1800 times as much energy as the Krakatoa eruption.

That looks to be out by two orders of magnitude, or is the mistake mine?