Earth's first Trojan asteroid

ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
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Now there's word out of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory that astronomers have just discovered Earth's first Trojan asteroid — a rock that shares our own solar orbit, leading us around the sun like a tugboat pulling an ocean liner. That's big news not just because such an object had never been spotted before, but also because a Trojan could make such an easy and nifty place for astronauts to visit.


http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2085982,00.html?xid=newsletter-weekly
 

dumpthemonarchy

House Member
Jan 18, 2005
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www.cynicsunlimited.com
I like all asteroid news and I like this of course. All space news is good news.

I must disagree with idea of landing on an asteroid, because, unlike the Moon, they lack water for fuel and breathing. Plus, they are farther away. An automatic mining machine, if it works, okay. But then it could work on the Moon too.
 

Tonington

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 27, 2006
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Trojan asteroid - does this mean the thing has a giant condom on it?

It means if we go to investigate the asteroid, a life form will hitch a ride back to earth and wipe many of us out.
 

ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
8,583
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Trojan asteroid - does this mean the thing has a giant condom on it?
Yes, it's safe.

I like all asteroid news and I like this of course. All space news is good news.

I must disagree with idea of landing on an asteroid, because, unlike the Moon, they lack water for fuel and breathing. Plus, they are farther away. An automatic mining machine, if it works, okay. But then it could work on the Moon too.
That little asteroid would make a very good new Internation Space Station when ISS is crashed. Not better than a Moon base, but in addition to one.
 

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
118,154
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Old folks homes..this would never happen on the moon. She'd bounce.
 

Cliffy

Standing Member
Nov 19, 2008
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Ya! I wish all those who want to go and colonize space would get on with it. It is getting too crowded and dirty down here. Those who want to go can send cash to NASA to speed things up.