DE-STAR could save us by vaporizing asteroids. Source. Credit: Philip M. Lubin
I am by no means endorsing this idea, but I thought it interesting, and outlandish, enough to warrant a "Picture of the Day".
This picture is a concept drawing for an orbital laser array known as "DE-STAR" (Directed Energy Solar Targeting of Asteroids). With all the asteroid scares recently, a lot of people have been putting their heads together to figure out a way to potentially protect our tiny planet from the nearly invisible floating chunks of death that roam our universe. This laser array, if created large enough, could vaporize nearly any size of asteroid if given enough time. To achieve asteroid vaporization or deflection, the device would take energy from the sun and then redirect it towards its target. The primary goal would be to destroy or deter asteroids, but it could theoretically also be used to send power to spacecraft.
I'll admit that this idea is a little crazy, but you have to admit that it does sound really cool. At least people are trying, right?
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