The country's top space researchers have set their sights on an asteroid called 99942 Apophis, named for the Egyptian god of destruction.
Apophis has a slim but real chance of colliding with Earth this century and that's all the incentive the Russians need to swing into action.
I think I'm starting to like these comparisons. Doesn't the above story sound exactly like the gun enthusiast who insists he needs weapons for self protection?
Apophis was discovered in 2004.
According to "The New York Times," scientists say it'll swing past Earth three times in the coming decades.
It's surest shot at impact is its second pass in 2032, when it'll have a one-in-45-thousand chance of hitting Earth.
Since it's three times the size of a 1908 meteorite that took out 80-million trees in Siberia, the Russians are understandably nervous.
The space agency says the goal is to deflect the asteroid instead of blowing it up, and there won't be any nuclear weapons used.
What this means of course is it's not only meteorites (murder) but also asteroids (rape and robbery) that must be protected against. Only a fool would fail to take the necessary precautions against these dangers, not that they're so likely to occur, but because if the do the results are so devastating.
What's your opinion? Are you worried about meteorites and asteroids? Are you doing everything you can to responsibly protect yourself and your family from these terrible disasters?
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
I saw that movie. A bunch of oil drillers land on it and drill a deep hole.
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