In 1993, the U.S. Department of Defense declassified information dealing with frequent explosions in the upper atmosphere caused by meteoric impact. It is estimated that impacts have occurred of a magnitude equivalent to the atomic bomb detonated at Hiroshima. Not all such space voyagers meet their end in the atmosphere, however; huge craters attest to the bombardment of earth over millions of years, and a major impact may have resulted in the extinction of dinosaurs. An impact in Siberia near the beginning of this century proves that such events are not confined to geologic time. Hazards Due to Comets and Asteroids marks a significant step in the attempt to come to grips with the threats posed by such phenomena. It brings together more than one hundred scientists from around the world, who draw on observational and theoretical research to focus on the technical problems related to all aspects of dealing with these hazards: searching for and identifying hazardous comets and asteroids; describing their statistics and characteristics; intercepting and altering the orbits of dangerous objects; and applying existent technologies—rocket boosters, rendezvous and soft-landing techniques, instrumentation—to such missions. The book considers defensive options for diverting or disrupting an approaching body, including solar sails, kinetic-energy impacts, nuclear explosives, robotic mass drivers, and various propulsion systems. A cataclysmic impact posing a threat to life on Earth is a possibility that tomorrow's technology is capable of averting. This book examines in depth the reality of the threat and proposes practical measures that can be initiated now should we ever need to deal with it.
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"This book is an impressive start at redirecting the thinking of both idealistic astronomers intent on expanding knowledge of the universe and the world's arsenal of nuclear scientists who designed and built weapons that themselves could wreak worldwide devastation. Experts from all sides have made a collaborative, multinational effort to save the world from a chunk of rock or a ball of ice. This work has historical as well as pragmatic significance." —Sky and Telescope"As with all the books in this Arizona Space Science Series the standard of production, illustration, and referencing is first class." —The Observatory
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Professional look into the treat from cosmos
This is a scientific book addressed to professionals, although the main ideas will be of interest to the general audience. The potential threat of a global catastrophe caused by a large asteroid or comet impact has been the centre of public attention for quite some time. It generated many discussions mainly in the popular literature and in various sites on the Internet. While very illuminating, these discussions are not sufficient for somebody who, like myself, would be interested in undertaking research in this area. The reviewed book fills this gap by providing the up-to-date and in-depth account of the problem and possible methods of solution. I believe the book establishes the foundation of a new branch of science associated with the problem of cosmic defence.
Being an expert in the area of Fracture Mechanics, I am naturally interested in developing mechanically sound methods of deflection and destruction of the Near Earth Objects (NEO) on the collision course with Earth. The reviewed book thus proves to be an invaluable source of information in this respect. It covers the whole range of aspects related to the problem from the types and probabilities of threat to possible defence methods. From my prospective, the most important are two aspects: (a) the identification of different types of cosmic threat (from large solid bodies to the not least dangerous clouds of small objects) and; (b) the possible types of internal structure and composition of the NEOs. All these as well as other aspects (the NEO detection, methods of the NEO defence, the environmental consequences) are covered in great depth.
I would strongly recommend this book everyone starting a research in the area.
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