Rusty Schweickart
Rusty Schweickart
Russell Louis "Rusty" Schweickartis an American aeronautical engineer, and a former NASA astronaut, research scientist, U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, as well as a former business executive and government executive...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionAstronaut
Date of Birth25 October 1935
CountryUnited States of America
asteroid capability enhance human order protect slightly system
We have the capability - physically, technically - to protect the Earth from asteroid impacts. We are now able to very slightly and subtly reshape the solar system in order to enhance human survival.
affected asteroid history impacts life origins
When you look at the origins and evolution of life on Earth, it's been severely affected by asteroid impacts through history.
asteroid aware consequences jay leno papers slim strike time watch
Americans who read the papers or watch Jay Leno have been aware for some time now that there is a slim but real possibility - about 1 in 45,000 - that an 850-foot-long asteroid called Apophis could strike Earth with catastrophic consequences on April 13, 2036.
spaceship
We're not passengers on Spaceship Earth. We're the crew.
century commercial developers embody former safe version
As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of the Apollo frontier spirit.
resources
All of us know today the value of communications satellites, weather satellites, resources satellites, etc.
kids millions
Landing on the moon was a dream that millions of kids have had for hundreds of years.
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The nice thing about asteroids is that once you've found them, and once you have a good solid orbit on them, you can predict a hundred years ahead of time whether there is a likelihood of an impact with Earth.
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When you have an asteroid threatening Earth, it's uncertain where it's going to hit until the last minute; the decision to take action has to be coordinated by the international community.
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You almost wish you could turn off the COMM and just appreciate the deafening quiet.
letting-go mean views
So I just let go with one hand, and just sort of swung around, looked at the Earth below and the black space above and the sun over my shoulder. And, I mean, it was this incredible, spectacular view.
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We're sitting in a shooting gallery, with hundreds of thousands of these things whizzing around in the inner solar system. So it's just a matter of time.