All Comets Are Different - More Study and Research Desperately Needed

Not long ago, I was talking to a distant acquaintance of mine, who
complimented me on an article I wrote about planetary defense from
such things as killer asteroids, or very large comets heading towards
Earth. We all know that the dinosaurs did not have a planetary defense
system, and today they are no longer with us - coincidence? I think
not, especially if the theories hold true that the dinosaurs were
indeed killed after a giant asteroid or comet hit the Earth.NASA
scientists have done a tremendous amount of research studying, and
cataloging all the near Earth objects, and especially the Earth orbit
crossing objects. What they found is very interesting, but also
alarming in some regards. All comets and all asteroids are not created
equally. They are compacted differently, as some are solid metal, and
some are consider loosely packed rubble piles. Many contain lots of
ice on top of them, and some contain none.Therefore, if we wish to
diverge, deflect, or destroy an asteroid or comet, we need more data
before we send up an intercept vehicle, space probe, or even a manned
mission to take it out. The reality is we know a lot more than we used
to about the makeup of comets and asteroids, but the more we learn,
the more questions we have.We've only gotten pictures in space of 4
comet nuclei so far, each very different, but luckily in November of
2010 we will have an abundance of new data to study, all of which
taken by a space probe specifically designed for a close fly-by. This
probe has important visual equipment on it which will give us lots of
new data to observe and study.In a recent Science at NASA article
online, it stated; "EPOXI will provide not only a birds-eye view of a
new world but the best extended view of a comet in history" and "This
spacecraft is built for close encounters. Its instruments and our
planned observations are optimized for this kind of mission. When, as
Deep Impact, it flew by Tempel 1, it turned its instruments away from
the nucleus to protect them from debris blasted up by the impactor.
This time we won't turn away."Are you beginning to see why we need
more research and the scientific venue, and why we must find the
research and development to continue this process? Please consider all
this.Reference:1.-Science at NASA Website, article entitled: "NASA
Spacecraft Hurtles Toward Active Comet Hartley 2" - published on
October 15, 2010 and written by Dauna Coulter, edited by Tony
Philips.