Direct sunlight has a lot more sting when there's no atmosphere to dull it. But seems a lot more sense to use the sun with the amount of energy it puts out, than some other plans with explosives that could be as dangerous to us as the asteroid. We need to do some more work on finding out what these asteroids can be made of. Reminds me of burning paper with a magnifying glass in the sun

WOW

I prefer blasting them with lasers

I prefer blasting them with lasers

that would require pretty good aim! if you feel you're up to it, please give me a call first so i can watch the spectacle!

Cool idea; Thanks for the clip. Maybe it will be practical one day
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It does sound like a great future way for small vehicles to move around in jumble of the asteroid belts where they are mining.

It is my contention that mining the asteroid belt is like the initial drilling of the old oilfields of the late 19th and early 20th century. The large companies will begin the work, and then families and small groups can begin their colonization efforts through mining. Like the Roamers in Kevin Anderson's books, The Saga of the Seven Suns.

Thinking about ideas like this is very helpful for students and adults so they may hone their critical thinking skills.

To deflect a 20-kilometre asteroid, about the size of the one that wiped out the dinosaurs, it would take the combined work of 5000 mirror spacecraft focusing sunlight on the asteroid for three or more years.

That's If you get enough advanced warning time. Three or more years in space is a long time as well and would only work on 'known' asteroids. Rogue or uncharted, and 'BOOM, there goes the neighborhood.

Just to let you know, this is one of the most thought provoking, yet positive clips. Thanks! Cool comments too.

I think it sounds like a great idea! If, as Nappy says, we have enough advanced warning. I expect it would also take a great deal of time to build and deploy 5000 mirror spacecraft, but I l love the idea. I hope it could be done.

What if the asteroid rotates?

To answer my own question - I suppose if you have plenty of warning you could use a "turn on and off" effect to heat the same spot each time it 'rotates around' ... but I think that would mean you would even require more time to effect a change.