On Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:14:57 -0700, Craig Lalley <[log in to unmask]> 
wrote:

>Wirt Atmar <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>
>>In contrast, if your car were in space, every fly impact would alter your 
course
>>a bit. Because of the severity of this effect, NASA has studied a number of
>>alternatives to pushing a gazillion tonne asteroid out of the way.
>
>  Off topic as usual.
>
>  I remember seeing a picture awhile back, where a paint chip severly 
damaged the Challenger's windshield (1983), the paint chip hit at about 
18,000mph IIRC.
>
>  I couldn't find the picture, but it documented here
>  http://tinyurl.com/5h6q82
>
>  One scarry quote.
>
>"The paint chip would likely have punctured the spacesuit of an astronaunt 
involved in extravehicular activity".
>
>  -Craig
>
>
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I think the space suits are self-sealing, where a paint chip going
fast enough will disintegrate and the resulting hole in the space 
suit will then be sealed up.

My concern is, if the asteroid can come that close, what are the 
chances of it hitting the moon, and what would be the consequences?

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