Considering they’re not legislating much, what else do they have to do on their short work weeks. Besides, the CSPAN cameras are on and they’re up for reelection every two years. Cruz and Nelson only have to face the voters every six years, Stephen.

That’s make work chatter by her– the ”party line’– and you’d expect nothing else. Thing is, Congress isn’t gonig to buy it, especially now that it’s moved into the orbit of late night comedians. The House isn’t going to hand the Obama Administration any ‘wins’ unless it has to. ‘And that’s the way it is,’ to borrow a line from the late Walter Cronkite. Project Lasso is as dead as Apollo 13′s service module. Apologies for any and all typos.

“Once we can successfully grab the easiest asteroid we can then learn to deal with harder ones.”

I doubt that our mitigation strategy for asteroids on a collision course with Earth will involve sending humans to somehow do something, like in the movies.

Humans are too fragile to send on such missions, and I think we’ll only send robotic systems. If that’s the case, then learning how to lasso an asteroid and bring it into Earth’s orbit doesn’t do anything to help future asteroid mitigation.

It is a start. Once we can successfully grab the easiest asteroid we can then learn to deal with harder ones.

Lots of things to learn:
How to make an asteroid detection system.
How to operate an asteroid detection (and warning) system.
How to build a spacecraft that can fly to the asteroid. (Even if we choose to nuke the asteroid we need the above.)

Guidance system that can rendezvous with the asteroid, including matching speed and direction.
Mechanical system able to bag the asteroid. (Solid asteroids can simply be pushed but one containing dust or loose boulders needs bagging.)

Guidance system and RCS able to fit the bag around an asteroid.
The ability to stop the asteroid spinning – so we can direct it.
Rockets and guidance system able to fly the asteroid to EML-2.

Then the science mission to inspect the small asteroid.

How to pay for these 3 missions.

What I said was “That limp funding they were given painted an abundantly clear picture of the priority that Congress gave that task for NASA.” NEO detection has been given paltry funding by NASA. That paltry funding is how Congress salutes their own words about the importance of impact mitigation. You just don’t get it, do you. The evidence is there in black and while, and especially dollar numbers that Congress believes it has done what needs to be done.

“Yes, starting with AASS Weiler. I don’t hate Weiler”

You fill your replies here and in previous posts with snarky comments about him. Ed Weiler very certainly dominates your consciousness in an unhealthy way. It may not be hatred, but there is some obsession and loathing. Take your pills. Ed was actually highly respected at NASA and in the science community. What respect do you command that allows you this snark?

“For example, not once have you mentioned the need for space based detectors to deal with this, Hiram”

There are a lot of things I didn’t mention. Get used to it. How many studies of photon background, closed cycle cooling, observing cadence, and diffraction losses have you mentioned? C’mon, get with the program!

“Overall, ARM provdes the necessities for planetary defense.”

Grabbing the easiest asteroid possible is not an indication we can defend the planet from any asteroid.

As proposed, the ARM is a pretty inefficient way to do ANY planetary defense.

“If you have a better way on accomplishing all of those, let’s hear it.”

Focusing on detection is the most important part, since if you don’t know what’s coming (and when) it doesn’t matter what you spend on mitigation.

However asteroid detection is not yet a high enough priority for our political leaders, so I don’t expect much funding for doing even detection. I think we should do more, but until the politicians agree, it won’t happen.

“You have to look at the tankage, engine, structures, control systems, integration and launch systems for SLS separate from ATK. Those are important national assets.”

E.P., as I’ve said before, ATK is not a major consideration in the SLS program, and is likely to be completely locked out int he future.

And no, none of those things you mentioned are “national assets”, they are just pieces and parts of an unneeded rocket, and as designed likely will never be used on any other launch system in the future.

I do not think there is a better mission for an SLS test flight than ARM.

BTW, I have seen multiple guesses here as to the origin of the ARM, along with attacks on Lou Friedman, who some space “enthusiasts” now view as a “heretic”. Without citing any sources, I will simply state here that they have been wrong. You cna believe that or not.

Overall, ARM provdes the necessities for planetary defense. If you have a better way on accomplishing all of those, let’s hear it.

Once again, I apologize for all of the typos and grammatical errors.

You have to look at the tankage, engine, structures, control systems, integration and launch systems for SLS separate from ATK. Those are important national assets.

The best way to protect those assets is by tying them to something extraordnarily important. Though the usual space “enthusiasts” disgree, ARM does exactly that.