Exploding Robots May Scout Hazardous Asteroids 120
An anonymous reader writes to mention NewScientist is reporting that a small force of robots designed to explode could help reveal an asteroid's inner structure. This could in turn allow scientists a better understanding of how to divert a rogue asteroid on a collision course with Earth. From the article: "The main spacecraft would stay a few dozen kilometers away, perhaps nudging the probes towards the asteroid using springs. Once on the surface, the protective spherical shell of each probe would open to allow the probe to scan the surface nearby. To reduce complexity and costs, the probes lack solar panels and run on battery power, limiting their lifetime to a few days. But each probe could still cover a lot of ground in that time, as they could be fitted with small thrusters to let them hop across the surface. Eventually the probes could detonate onboard explosives, sacrificing themselves for science one by one. Probes that had not yet detonated would listen for any seismic waves sent rippling out from the explosion, and the main spacecraft could observe the craters left behind. That would tell scientists about the asteroid's strength and internal structure."
Smells of... (Score:2, Funny)
No wonder they're hazardous! (Score:5, Funny)
Think of the Asteroids (Score:5, Funny)
Watch for attacking asteroid clusters, armed to the teeth with lasers and nuclear bombs!
ha ha, just kidding...asteroids don't have teeth.
Bomb #20 says... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I for one... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:No wonder they're hazardous! (Score:5, Funny)
I would hate to be one of the engineers testing these.
In a related story..... (Score:5, Funny)
warning: humor follows (Score:3, Funny)
This just in..... (Score:2, Funny)
Last words from the robots: (Score:5, Funny)
Obligatory (Score:3, Funny)
Easy Economics: Capital vs Labor (Score:3, Funny)
I can see the ad campaign now:
"Tired of being labeled a terrorist? Why not join the new Space Explorers Club and really help humanity! Visitation with Allah guaranteed after mission! Sign up today!"
Then research funds could be freed up to build robotic solutions the world REALLY want... sex bots! Woo!
(For the humor impaired, insert tongue into cheek and re-read.
Hey Baby, (Score:1, Funny)
Now there's a pickup line...
Armageddon (Score:3, Funny)
Re:No wonder they're hazardous! (Score:4, Funny)
I think the bigger worry would be:
I hope to hell OTHER planets aren't coming up with exploding robot probes....and aming them at that 'earth' planet way out there....to see what kind of seismic activity they can detect.
Virgin robots? (Score:3, Funny)
The title... (Score:3, Funny)
"Exploding Robots May Scout Hazardous Asteroids"
"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog."
Re:Smells of... (Score:2, Funny)
Then it's a.... (Score:3, Funny)
Simple : It's a...
BruceWillisBot (TM) !
special "Armagedon (TM)" Edition. (Although no announcement has been made yet, if the CD deck playing Aerosmith will be optionnal)