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Tyyr wrote:Not really. I mean it makes for a nice homey little saying but no.

Didn't think so . Just the way Ian was talking reminded me of it for some reason.

The biggest problem with Scotty's analogy is the blind fold. When you're doing this you know the precise location, velocity, acceleration, etc. of both the launch point, the target, and the vehicle. You have the ability to make mid course targeting adjustments. You have plenty of time to plan out every little detail. For a deep space interception like this is all just math, and not even particularly difficult math.

And in the end an impactor is just about the dumbest way to do this regardless.

Tyyr wrote:The biggest problem with Scotty's analogy is the blind fold. When you're doing this you know the precise location, velocity, acceleration, etc. of both the launch point, the target, and the vehicle. You have the ability to make mid course targeting adjustments. You have plenty of time to plan out every little detail. For a deep space interception like this is all just math, and not even particularly difficult math.

And in the end an impactor is just about the dumbest way to do this regardless.

For what it is worth this is also true for Ballistic Missile Interception. The math of hitting on target moving in a straight line is not difficult. It all comes down to engineering and systems integration. The speed simply makes it more difficult as it compresses the response time.

With an asteroid you have a very large taget and all the time in the world to plan.

Captain Seafort wrote:I wonder if they'll call their system "Peter the Great".

Cookie for the reference.

The movie "Meteor" with Sean Connery. Peter the Great was the Russian orbital missile system that was combined with the American one to knock out the approaching asteroid.

And I didn't have to google... I love that movie!

Ditto. Probably the most over-the-top disaster movie I've ever seen, but still good fun.

Russian (paraphrased): We have no orbital missile system.

Connery: Then what the hell's this thing called Peter the Great?

Also gotta love the Russian's line as he's departing... said in front of assembled dignitaries and press...

Interpreter : "And now he would like to repeat some words of wisdom a cab driver told him the other day."
Russian : "F uck the dodgers!"