What do you do when this happens?

[Mighty1]

A picture is worth a thousand words.

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Should I go for intercept now or try to go up the tech tree for the claw?

Suggestions please.

[cantab]

Ignore it, they aren't that big.

If you must deflect it, get to it as soon as possible and it'll only need a small nudge, you can use a clawless pusher.

[EtherDragon]

Ignore it, they aren't that big.

Move your investments to an off-shore account, though... just in case.

[Mighty1]

I know that they just make a puff sound when they hit but still. Think of the poor kerbals.

[Frank_G]

Build some stadium seating and a snack booth, after determining the exact impact point... then take 5 bucks of every kerbal that wants to watch the show... count the millions available for the next mission.

Jokes aside... just let it impact... it wont do nothing serious (in the current version of KSP).

[Specialist290]

In game terms, yeah, the asteroid will probably just bounce off the surface if you're actively focused on it when it hits (or disappear once it gets into the lower atmosphere if it isn't).

If you want to figure out its hypothetical effects, though, then you might want to try out the Earth Impact Effects Program for a (very) rough estimate of what might happen. It's mainly set up for real-world encounters, of course, but it probably won't be a bad estimate. I half-recall from earlier threads that a Class E asteroid is ~30m in diameter; play around with the other numbers if you want to see how close you can safely be to the impact zone, if you're the type who likes to live dangerously

EDIT: And while I'm at it, this probably fits better in Gameplay Questions, since you're asking for recommendations on what you should do. Moving

Edited August 27, 2014 by Specialist290

[HafCoJoe]

In game terms, yeah, the asteroid will probably just bounce off the surface if you're actively focused on it when it hits (or disappear once it gets into the lower atmosphere if it isn't).

If you want to figure out its hypothetical effects, though, then you might want to try out the Earth Impact Effects Program for a (very) rough estimate of what might happen. It's mainly set up for real-world encounters, of course, but it probably won't be a bad estimate. I half-recall from earlier threads that a Class E asteroid is ~30m in diameter; play around with the other numbers if you want to see how close you can safely be to the impact zone, if you're the type who likes to live dangerously

That is a cool website! I just calculated what would happen if a lucky asteroid of normal proportions (I think, but I have no real clue what is normal) hit within 6 km from my house. Creepy...

[Kasuha]

If you want to figure out its hypothetical effects, though, then you might want to try out the Earth Impact Effects Program for a (very) rough estimate of what might happen.

Hey, nice toy!

I tried to put realistic parameters into it (can't enter Kerbin atmosphere):

Position 10 km from impact

Diameter 30 m

Density 212 kg/m3 (gives a decent 3000 t asteroid)

Velocity 3 km/s (still more than the one in the image)

Impact angle 90 degrees (worst case)

Hits sedimentary rock

Got these results:

Major Global Changes:

The Earth is not strongly disturbed by the impact and loses negligible mass.

The impact does not make a noticeable change in the tilt of Earth's axis (< 5 hundreths of a degree).

The impact does not shift the Earth's orbit noticeably.

Atmospheric Entry:

The projectile begins to breakup at an altitude of 77100 meters = 253000 ft

The projectile bursts into a cloud of fragments at an altitude of 31300 meters = 103000 ft

The residual velocity of the projectile fragments after the burst is 1.61 km/s = 0.997 miles/s

The energy of the airburst is 2.01 x 1013 Joules = 0.48 x 10-2 MegaTons.

No crater is formed, although large fragments may strike the surface.

Air Blast:

The air blast will arrive approximately 1.58 minutes after impact.

Peak Overpressure: 2.52 Pa = 0 bars = 0.000358 psi

Max wind velocity: 0.00593 m/s = 0.0133 mph

Sound Intensity: 8 dB (Barely Audible)

[Cirocco]

In game terms, yeah, the asteroid will probably just bounce off the surface if you're actively focused on it when it hits (or disappear once it gets into the lower atmosphere if it isn't).

If you want to figure out its hypothetical effects, though, then you might want to try out the Earth Impact Effects Program for a (very) rough estimate of what might happen. It's mainly set up for real-world encounters, of course, but it probably won't be a bad estimate. I half-recall from earlier threads that a Class E asteroid is ~30m in diameter; play around with the other numbers if you want to see how close you can safely be to the impact zone, if you're the type who likes to live dangerously

EDIT: And while I'm at it, this probably fits better in Gameplay Questions, since you're asking for recommendations on what you should do. Moving

Oh that is the coolest space-nerd toy ever. I am going to have so much fun inputting everything from bullet-sized diamond asteroids to planet-enders.

[capi3101]

Send up Bruce Willis Kerman and Ben Affleck Kerman, and let them stay on the rock as it plummets into the surface...

Alright - if I'm calculating this right, impact is in about 15.5 days. The good news is that you've got Stability, which is the pre-requisite for General Construction, which is the pre-requisite for Advanced Construction, which is the pre-requisite for Actuators (which gives you the claw). That's only 295 science points you need to get before you've got it. You're missing a couple of other techs that I would consider essential for a rendezvous and docking mission -General Rocketry, Flight Control and Advanced Flight Control, possibly Fuel Systems as well - which amount to another 245 points, so about 540 points total. The good news is that you've unlocked enough tech to put together a Geschosskopf Science Pack. I'd build one of those bad boys and do the first two of Geschosskopf's suggestions - put a pack at a 100 kilometer orbit and bring it down, then do a second mission to 400 kilometers and bring it back down. If you've done that already, a Munar fly-by or two should get you the tech you need. Those missions might take you a day, and if you're judicious about how you build them they'll cost you not much more than 30,000 kerbucks a pop or so (that was about the cost of the one I sent to Mun, and that one could land).

Long and the short of it - you've got time and you've got the equipment, as long as you've got moola you can pull off a graboid mission.

[capi3101]

Occurred to me after I got of work today that my time to impact figure is off - it assumed the rock would be travelling at a constant speed, which it shouldn't be (it should accelerate as it approaches Kerbin). Based on the equations for a falling body given Kerbin's radius, gravitational parameter and the initial height of the rock, you don't have fifteen days...you have three. You can still grind out the tree in time to avoid an impact, but it'll be a close thing (with a Mun mission taking roughly one full day).

[Wanderfound]

Launch a pusher with some girders on the nose (no claw required). Nudge orbit until the impact point is in the middle of KSC. Build grandstands on the roof of the SPH.

[-Velocity-]

Hey, nice toy!

I tried to put realistic parameters into it (can't enter Kerbin atmosphere):

Position 10 km from impact

Diameter 30 m

Density 212 kg/m3 (gives a decent 3000 t asteroid)

Velocity 3 km/s (still more than the one in the image)

Impact angle 90 degrees (worst case)

Hits sedimentary rock

Got these results:

Major Global Changes:

The Earth is not strongly disturbed by the impact and loses negligible mass.

The impact does not make a noticeable change in the tilt of Earth's axis (< 5 hundreths of a degree).

The impact does not shift the Earth's orbit noticeably.

Atmospheric Entry:

The projectile begins to breakup at an altitude of 77100 meters = 253000 ft

The projectile bursts into a cloud of fragments at an altitude of 31300 meters = 103000 ft

The residual velocity of the projectile fragments after the burst is 1.61 km/s = 0.997 miles/s

The energy of the airburst is 2.01 x 1013 Joules = 0.48 x 10-2 MegaTons.

No crater is formed, although large fragments may strike the surface.

Air Blast:

The air blast will arrive approximately 1.58 minutes after impact.

Peak Overpressure: 2.52 Pa = 0 bars = 0.000358 psi

Max wind velocity: 0.00593 m/s = 0.0133 mph

Sound Intensity: 8 dB (Barely Audible)

No asteroids hit Earth at 3 km/s. Velocities range for 10 km/s to 20 km/s usually. The calculator may not actually be able to accurate predict some of the effects if they scale non-linearly and the calculator uses certain assumptions to simplify calculation. Put the velocity at 15 km/s and you'll see something diffferent and much more realistic.

Oh and I just noticed your density was way too low. Water is 1000 kg/m^3. A realistic asteroid density is perhaps 2000-8000 kg/m^3 (8000 kg/m^3 being like solid iron), depending on what it's made of and how much empty space it has inside it (if it's a rubble pile, that might be a lot).

Edited August 28, 2014 by |Velocity|

[Kasuha]

No asteroids hit Earth at 3 km/s. Velocities range for 10 km/s to 20 km/s usually. The calculator may not actually be able to accurate predict some of the effects if they scale non-linearly and the calculator uses certain assumptions to simplify calculation. Put the velocity at 15 km/s and you'll see something diffferent and much more realistic.

Oh and I just noticed your density was way too low. Water is 1000 kg/m^3. A realistic asteroid density is perhaps 2000-8000 kg/m^3 (8000 kg/m^3 being like solid iron), depending on what it's made of and how much empty space it has inside it (if it's a rubble pile, that might be a lot).

I was simulating the situation in the OP. Both velocity and density are about correct.

[MarvinKitFox]

I was simulating the situation in the OP. Both velocity and density are about correct.

Yep.

Strange word these Kerbals live in.

Asteroids average density is about 0.25

Kerbin's average density is 58

Why on earth are they worried about impacting meteors?

It would be like getting slapped in the face by a snowflake!

[Claw]

Why on earth are they worried about impacting meteors?

It would be like getting slapped in the face by a snowflake!

Which is probably why the asteroids bounce.

[Mighty1]

Hi all and thanks for the advice. The speed of the roid is so small because it was spawned at that location.

Now, as there are only a few kerbals alive on the planet (only at the KSC) they panicked and build what they could with existing tech. It cost some 200 k spacebucks - around 2/3 of the overall budget. So I made a rendezvous with the roid, maneuvered with no RCS (which is a big deal for me) and in several tries managed to push it out of the way. And as a bonus made a soft landing in the ocean. I think I over designed the ship as I had over half the fuel left. There are some pics in the original post and I an sorry for missing some crucial parts of the mission but I was to busy with maneuvering and I didn't have time for photographs.

[MarvinKitFox]

Ah yes.. That image #4 of yours...

Did you study rocket building at "Moar Boosters high", or are you possibly a graduate of the "WhackJobian school of Big Bangs"?

Either way, Jeb approves!

[GreatWyrmGold]

If you want to figure out its hypothetical effects, though, then you might want to try out the Earth Impact Effects Program for a (very) rough estimate of what might happen.

That's better than the version I've been using. Thanks!

[Mighty1]

Ah yes.. That image #4 of yours...

Did you study rocket building at "Moar Boosters high", or are you possibly a graduate of the "WhackJobian school of Big Bangs"?

Either way, Jeb approves!

Well, SRBs give you more bang for the buck when pure power is required so for getting out of the atmosphere they are perfect.

The thing that surprised me the most is that the ship did not break up as it went up as I fly with FAR and it wasn't the best aerodynamic shape. And the only damage was that the reaction wheels burned up on reentry as they were radially attached (deadly reentry).

Edited September 1, 2014 by Mighty1

[capi3101]

I was wondering how this had turned out; glad to hear you were able to save your civilization as you knew it. My turn's coming up in about forty days, as it turns out.