Comments on: The White House, Sudan, and a meteorite

By: Library: A Round-up of Reading « Res Communis

Library: A Round-up of Reading « Res Communis — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:15:43 +0000

[…] The White House, Sudan, and a meteorite – Space Politics […]

By: Allen Thomson

Allen Thomson — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:53:23 +0000

Speaking of asteroidal attacks on the earth, or at least on windshields:

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/655154

http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2135364

By: Robert Oler

Robert Oler — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 02:03:47 +0000

Bob Mahoney that is not really fair. If I am going to tirade against a former member of the Shrub administration then at least I get to take a little tirade against the entire administration, particularly the head of it…

You know the guy who said “dangers gather near our shores” and was exaggerating!

(sorry couldnt resist) help please ….

Robert G. Oler

By: Daniel Fischer

Daniel Fischer — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:20:32 +0000

The events that crazy day – other fragments have appeared in various science magazines but no full story – should really be examined as a real-life case study for what happens when astronomers learn about an impending impact. In this particular case it had been clear because of the faintness of the asteroid that is was way too small to survive atmospheric entry and to unfold destructive power either by direct impact or via a Tunguska-style airburst, but there was the possibility of substantial meteorite shower, which indeed materialized.

So someone should have told Sudanese authorities and/or media regardless of the asteroid’s size that they had something interesting “incoming”; at least the substantial flash in the sky (which many actually saw, as it was just early morning prayer time) could be predicted with certainty. Some bloggers – yours truly included – actually tried to get the message across to fellow astronomers and communicators before TC3 entered but we couldn’t locate suitable contacts in time, and it was the middle of the night in Sudan anyway.

In the end everyone had a good time and a lot of science came out of this unique case, but it also highlighted that a formal information pipeline astronomers (at JPL and in Italy, doing the same orbit calculations independently) -> their governments and/or an international body -> the government of the country ‘under fire’ -> their media -> their people did not exist at that time. I think something along these lines is right now being instituted: The next one heading for Earth may be big enough to warrant more serious measures in the target country.

By: Bob Mahoney

Bob Mahoney — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:21:37 +0000

On what specific, irrefutable factual grounds do you base your snide suggestion regarding Ms. Perino’s credibility? And please don’t go off on another blustering tirade against the Bush administration et al. as you seem wont to do.

By: Robert Oler

Robert Oler — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:10:37 +0000

HMMM…I saw this plot on The West Wing.. except in that case it was the falling satellite but NASA sent a “email” to the press secretary…

not that Dana Perino would embellish…well she would

Robert G. Oler