[TML] Solution to the near-c rock question

[Jerry W Barrington]

On 2/1/08 9:55 PM, "Eris Reddoch" <erisred at bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Brad Murray wrote:
>> On Feb 1, 2008 12:34 PM, Jerry W Barrington <jursamaj at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> Err... gravitationally?  How big a package you sending?
>> 
>> 20 tons or so.  Big for a scientific package but not logistically
>> impossible.  You need to carry a bunch of fuel anyway.  With a year or
>> two's lead time you don't need all that big a vector to miss an earth
>> sized object.
> 
> I think using a mass driver powered by solar panels and chunks
> of the rock itself to change its course would be than trying
> to carry fuel with you.

If the asteroid is spinning (and most do), that complicates it.  The hover
method doesn't care if it spins.