🚀 go-pugleaf

cam@syzygy.DIALix.oz.au (Cameron Newham) writes:
>So, we nuke the comet which in turn would cause lots of radioactive
>debris to fall to earth over a large area.

Wrong.  There would be very little induced radiation, and most of the
radioactive material from the bomb would expand in space and miss the Earth.

>Besides - nuclear explosions in space are currently banned.

Since the World Court would cease to exist as a functioning body (and possibly
their building as well) if a sufficiently large comet hit the earth, it can
be rationally argued that they should not have jurisdiction.  ;-)

If you think humanity should just lie down and whimper if a comet really 
does come by, you are invited to stand in front of a truck on the nearest
freeway (or a comet, if one is handy).  Evolution in action, and all that.

>Anyway, all this talk of nuking comets is fine (if it works).  What about
>asteroids?  They present a rather more difficult problem.

As has been pointed out, yes and no.  They aren't going to outgas (so no
trick shots) but they'll hold together under a significantly firmer "push"
(so you could detonate the nuke quite close for a larger delta-V).