2006 Essays

Held each year to commemorate the first manned landing on the moon, AIAA SF sponsors an essay contest for 7th and 8th graders. U.S. Savings Bonds of varying denominations are awarded to the first, second, and third place winners in each grade. The theme for this year's contest was "What steps can be taken to protect the earth from a major asteroid impact?" This year's awards are presented at the August 31 section dinner meeting.

This year's winning entries are as follows:

What would happen if the Earth were hit by an asteroid? Mass extinction, global atmospheric disturbance, and extreme natural disasters would just be the preliminaries. How can we prevent these horrifying disasters? Using a compilation of many resources, I suggest the following plan.

First, all asteroids that regularly bring themselves close to Earth or intersect with Earth’s orbit should be recorded and classified according the Torino scale and detailed information about the asteroids’ orbits must be obtained. This way, those asteroids that have a likelihood of an impact on Earth will be known, and when the danger arrives, we can prepare for it. Then, asteroids marked 0 to 4hen, asteroids marked 0 to 4 on the Torino scale should be given little priority on research. Those marked 5 to 7 should be especially researched and tracked. Asteroids marked 8 to 10 should have thorough examination and warnings should be put out.

Next, all people must be evacuated out of the area where the asteroid is supposed to hit. The last, but most important step would be to deflect the asteroid to minimize or avoid an impact. The deflection would need two blasts from laser guns, which would be transported by space shuttles to the moon, where a base would be built. Then, powerful laser pulses would be fired at the asteroid to ablate spots on its surface and change its course. Thus, the asteroid would miss Earth and if there ever was an asteroid problem again, the moon base would take care of it.

It would be disastrous if the Earth was hit by an asteroid. It could kill millions, cause an ice age, and decimate major cities. We know the results would be catastrophic and horrifying. The best way to survive an asteroid impact would be to make sure an asteroid never hits. I have some plans to protect the Earth.

First of all, we can try and destroy the asteroid. We can do this in a number of ways, but the easiest in my opinion would be to launch a missile right at it. Scientists could measure the trajectory of the asteroid, and make a rough prediction of where it would be at a certain time. Then, they could set the course of a powerful rocket missile to coincide with the asteroid. Hopefully, the asteroid would split into millions off tiny pieces, or completely vaporize.

Another idea is to send up a space shuttle equipped with powerful rockets. The space shuttle could drop them right onto the asteroid. We could make a mechanism that would allow the rockets to then latch firmly onto the asteroid. Then, we can use a remote control to power up the rockets, and direct the asteroid far away from Earth.

Thee are just a few of my ideas to protect the Earth from an asteroid impact. I think they are feasible, and it can definitely be implemented as a precaution. Hopefully, they could save the entire planet from an otherwise devastating catastrophe.

KAPPOWWW!!! Imagine a huge rock that crashes on Earth, destroying everything around it, and kicking up dirt that blocks off the sun. What you would have seen was a meteorite.

An Asteroid is a rock that is flying through space. Most asteroids are of no danger to Earth, but some may be on a collision course. Scientists are already trying to find these objects that may ass near Earth, and we could use that technology to track down and calculate their trajectories.

Blowing up the asteroid would create a large amount of debris that would still be heading towards Earth. It would be better to move the asteroid of its trajectory. We would need remote control spacecraft that could be launched at any moment. These craft should carry penetrating ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads similar to bunker busters. The missile would need to have a very strong and heavy tip such as spent uranium so that it would be able to penetrate deep in the crust. The spacecraft should have at least two missiles so if the first one doesn’t work well, there will still be another chance. The hole made by the missile as it enters the crust would serve to channel the force of the explosion, similarly to how a rocket works. This would be effective at "nudging" the asteroid to a new trajectory. To move the asteroid off its trajectory even a little would make a lot of difference in the long run.

So, if we can locate the Asteroids with anticipation, we can prevent the extinction of life on Earth and the end of the world as we know it.

I believe that if there was going to be a major meteor impact, we could, practically, use lasers. Nations are experimenting using lasers to intercept and destroy projectiles on the battlefield or even testing to destroy an incoming nuclear missile. But suppose by using the same theories and practices, we could possibly use lasers to destroy meteors.

My first proposed idea would be a few large, high powered lasers in space. If many nations could work together to get 4 or 5 very high powered lasers launched we could very well protect ourselves. If we were threatened by a meteor we could approximate its trajectory and then align, depending on the size of the meteor, one or more of the lasers so the laser(s) effectively either destroys it, or burns enough of the surface away so that it breaks apart and burns up in earth’s atmosphere.

Another proposition is that we widely distribute lasers across the world. Because of handheld lasers mass-production, they are very inexpensive and widely available. If we could distribute lasers worldwide by such means as the Internet, millions or possibly billions of people could point their lasers at a spot on the meteor. Even if the spot was a fed hundred meters wide, the amount of energy per square meteor would surely be enough to break up the meteor or destroy it.

We could very well use these theories to protect ourselves from a large meteor, if the time should ever come.

The sky is falling!

Actually, an asteroid is shooting towards Earth at 40,000 miles per hour, just as scientists had predicted…

The Solar Wind’s obvious effects range from beautiful to disruptive. To deflect an asteroid from a perilous orbit, though, it proves helpful. A relatively simple contraption may implement the ambient energy from these charged particles, which are released at high velocity from the Sun, by bearing a circular bundle of superconducting wires. The spacecraft would be sent to the asteroid that is on collision course, accelerated to the same velocity, and brought into contact with it. The spacecraft’s inertia would allow it to remain in that relative position. With an electric current supplied by nanotube-enhanced ultra-capacitors inside the spacecraft to which the "magnetic sail" is attached, a magnetic field is generated. As the Sun constantly flings ionized hydrogen and helium, the magnetic force pushes – and is pushed by (Newton’s third law) – the particles in different directions, according to the direction of the current and the angle of the sail. Careful calculation and manipulation of this yet-to-be-made spacecraft can ameliorate the asteroid’s threat.

Despite many ways of deflecting and destroying asteroids, prevention of future collisions ultimately begins with early detection. Scientists around the world must come together and exemplify the ingenuity, wit and perseverance that have kept us going. Such a global threat poses a challenge to both the development and utilization of nascent technology, and our ability to join hands and work towards a common goal.

Scientists and researchers have studied asteroids for over two centuries. These massive and rocky metallic objects often span from 30 feet to 600 miles, while traveling at near light speed. The impact of one on earth’s surface could result in a cataclysmic disaster, sending rippling waves of mass extinction across the planet. As our modern technology develops and resources expand, organizations like NASA have begun theorizing and planning a reasonable strategy to prevent this catastrophe.

A detect early and destroy early strategy should be used. Safety and precision should be the main factors when preparing for an asteroid impact. Nuclear bombs might just be our solution. Nuclear energy has the capacity to significantly destroy an incoming asteroid. The sure-fire plan would be to plant or shoot nuclear missiles on the asteroid from a launch pad outside the planet, such as the International Space Station or the moon. External launching pads would protect earth from nuclear radiations and explosions. Accuracy would also improve with numerous target practices.

Along with safety and precision, the budget is also crucial. While we want a guaranteed strategy, a reasonable budget should be set. With various countries brewing up nuclear energy, creating the bombs should be easy. But transporting them safely to outside launching pads, practicing the shots, and safe storage should be considered carefully. With all these aspects taken into account, we would have built an effective, strong asteroid defense system.