Expert: Philip Stahl - 10/8/2010

Question
I was reading about water being discovered on asteroids and
it got me thinking about this crazy question. If you could
modify the speed and trajectory of a small asteroid about 10
miles in diameter and you knew its mass, is there any orbit
that you can design that would have it land gently into the
Pacific ocean or on land?

Answer
Hello,

Of course, a 10 mile diameter asteroid is a veritable "planet killer" - likely much bigger than the KT-event inceptor that took out the dinosaurs 65 My ago. Thus, no, it definitely wouldn't be a good idea to remotely consider trying to transport such a 'beast' anywhere near Earth.

In any case, I've no remote idea how present day Earth technology would get it done! This sounds more within the capacity of advanced, terraforming aliens - but not Earthers. Even to try to adjust the orbit of a 1/2 mile asteroid would be a herculean task, though current rocket technology might allow you to get it into an orbit more ocnvenient to access - say for ships departing from the environs of the space station.

Funding is another factor that enters into it, and given the current retrenchment of the manned space program (Space Shuttle to retire after next year) I don't see any asteroid shifting as anywhere near achieving in the near future .....perhaps up to 2050 or later.

And I can't imagine any robot craft doing it!