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core of a comet is like. Thus giving them a frame of reference to use when working on the problem of meteors. Though it is unlikely, they are hoping that the impact does not affect the comets' track. One scientist described it as a mosquito flying into the front of a Mack truck.

Two innovative scientists are working on their own "little" projects to save the earth from the threat of a meteor impact. One fellow in Nevada is building a spaceship with a giant solar power refractor. Similar to a huge magnifying glass. His proposal is that we use the light and heat from the sun to turn a meteor aside. The spaceship would fly to a position where it could target the front of a meteor heading for earth. It would then focus it's giant "magnifying glass" at the front of the giant rock. As the sun's heat warms the surface of the rock, it gets hotter and hotter until small particles actually begin to smoke and disintegrate. This action causes steam and exhaust to be vented, in front of the meteor, essentially creating a back thrust against the meteors earthward motion. After slowing the meteor to a manageable speed, the beam would be refocused to a point where it could be redirected away from the earth.

Sounds good in theory, but aren't meteors moving? I mean tumbling and rolling? Not fast I know, but fast enough to make focused heat a problem? I don't know, I don't know that much about meteors.
Another guy in California is also working on a project with the same purpose, but a very different approach. He isn't a scientist, he's an ex-astronaut (named Sceitcher or Streither or something odd like that) who was involved in several Apollo flights, and several space walks. He says that after seeing the earth from up there, it suddenly becomes much more precious to you, and that's why he is working on this project to save the earth from a possible disaster. Personally I like his plan better, it just seems to make more sense. He is also building a spaceship, which would actually rendezvous with an earth-bound meteor. His ship would fly directly to the meteor, and matching its earthward speed, gently dock with it. Then the ship would extend large grappling arms, which would be fastened over a large area of the meteor. The ship then fires its thrusters slowly and very gently pushes the meteor out of its impact course.
I like the astronaut's plan better because unlike the thermal ship, the grappling ship would be unmanned, thus reducing many risks of personal error, and loss of life. Although if the thermal one works and the grappling one does not, then I like the thermal one better

Learn more about this author, Cerys Tyler.
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