Post by Hussar on Sept 30, 2003 4:14:09 GMT -5
Netfeed - Search Results:"CU3" Begin Playback
Two years ago near Earth Asteroid 22771 1999 CU3 was just another hunk of rock floating about in our neighbourhood. Every four years it made a close pass with our planet but never close enough to be a concern. These days it is difficult to believe that we were ever so carefree about the heavens. It seems that the gods have decided to wake us up.
Two years ago, in May 2017, as CU3 was making it's regualar pass, amateur astronomer William McEnvoy gazed up and made his notes. Then he made the discovery that has changed everything. CU3 was slowing down. At first, astronomers dismissed his findings, claiming it was the result of poor astronomy or faulty math. But a few took a look. Then more. Then more. On August 21st, 2017, NASA made it's now historical announcement. CU3 was indeed slowing down. The three kilometer wide asteroid would collide with the Earth in April of 2021.
While the governments of the world worked frantically to calm the panicked populations, NASA, the ESA (European Space Agency) and the RKA (Russian Space Agency) worked frantically to find a solution. Method after method was proposed and rejected as either too dangerous or too time consuming. Sending missiles to destroy CU3 could result in splitting the asteroid into many pieces which would still rain destruction upon the Earth. Solar sails, small explosive shockwaves, even painting the rock with a reflective paint were all proposed and rejected. It was decided that a manned mission, armed with a multitude of potential solutions, was necessary.
After nearly two years, the space ship Hope was constructed and a crew of 20 selected. Drawn from the best and the brightest from all over the world, the crew of Hope will travel for three months to CU3 and deflect it away from the planet.
Of course, the greatest question still remains: Why did CU3 decelerate?
End Netfeed
Captain James Marshall looks over his crew manifest in his quarters on the ISS. A great crew with the most important mission in history. Save the planet. Looking down the list, he notes the names and responsibilities of the crew.
Lieutenant Grigory Semkin - Pilot, second in command
Lieutenant John Howard - Pilot, third in command
Dr. Jane Seward - Medic
Dr. Dalia Martinez - Medic and Non-denominational minister
Dr. Alex Seno - Head technition
Dr. Malcolm Blieth - second technition
Dr. Edwardo Abaroa - Astrophysisist
Dr. Sean Pepper - Astrogeologist
Dr. Brenda Stone - Geologist and demolitions expert
Dr. Fahd al-Blehed - Nuclear physisist specializing in nuclear weapons
Dr. Gersh Kuntzman - Communications specialist
Dr. Rana Foroohar - Computers specialist
Dr. Morris Kaner - Computers specialist
Dr. Michael Isikoff - Rover maintenance specialist
Dr. Melinda Hennenberger - Drilling specialist
Dr. Sarah Shafer - Mechanical Engineer
Dr. Ian Teh - Mechanical Engineer
Dr. Shawn Greenberg - Mechanical Engineer
Dr. Jen Lin-Liu - Xenobiologist.
Captain Marshall thumbs the coms button for a station wide announcement. All crew of Hope will assemble in the cargo bay at 1730.
Glancing down at his watch, Capt. Marshall sees that he still has twenty minutes before he has to give his final briefing. He makes his way over to the galley to grab a squeezebag of coffee before heading to the cargo hold.
Quote:
If anyone is interested in playing, this will be a freeform, hard sf story with no set rules. Simply pick a crew member from the list above and play. There will be very little combat. If you like hard sf let's go.
Two years ago near Earth Asteroid 22771 1999 CU3 was just another hunk of rock floating about in our neighbourhood. Every four years it made a close pass with our planet but never close enough to be a concern. These days it is difficult to believe that we were ever so carefree about the heavens. It seems that the gods have decided to wake us up.
Two years ago, in May 2017, as CU3 was making it's regualar pass, amateur astronomer William McEnvoy gazed up and made his notes. Then he made the discovery that has changed everything. CU3 was slowing down. At first, astronomers dismissed his findings, claiming it was the result of poor astronomy or faulty math. But a few took a look. Then more. Then more. On August 21st, 2017, NASA made it's now historical announcement. CU3 was indeed slowing down. The three kilometer wide asteroid would collide with the Earth in April of 2021.
While the governments of the world worked frantically to calm the panicked populations, NASA, the ESA (European Space Agency) and the RKA (Russian Space Agency) worked frantically to find a solution. Method after method was proposed and rejected as either too dangerous or too time consuming. Sending missiles to destroy CU3 could result in splitting the asteroid into many pieces which would still rain destruction upon the Earth. Solar sails, small explosive shockwaves, even painting the rock with a reflective paint were all proposed and rejected. It was decided that a manned mission, armed with a multitude of potential solutions, was necessary.
After nearly two years, the space ship Hope was constructed and a crew of 20 selected. Drawn from the best and the brightest from all over the world, the crew of Hope will travel for three months to CU3 and deflect it away from the planet.
Of course, the greatest question still remains: Why did CU3 decelerate?
End Netfeed
Captain James Marshall looks over his crew manifest in his quarters on the ISS. A great crew with the most important mission in history. Save the planet. Looking down the list, he notes the names and responsibilities of the crew.
Lieutenant Grigory Semkin - Pilot, second in command
Lieutenant John Howard - Pilot, third in command
Dr. Jane Seward - Medic
Dr. Dalia Martinez - Medic and Non-denominational minister
Dr. Alex Seno - Head technition
Dr. Malcolm Blieth - second technition
Dr. Edwardo Abaroa - Astrophysisist
Dr. Sean Pepper - Astrogeologist
Dr. Brenda Stone - Geologist and demolitions expert
Dr. Fahd al-Blehed - Nuclear physisist specializing in nuclear weapons
Dr. Gersh Kuntzman - Communications specialist
Dr. Rana Foroohar - Computers specialist
Dr. Morris Kaner - Computers specialist
Dr. Michael Isikoff - Rover maintenance specialist
Dr. Melinda Hennenberger - Drilling specialist
Dr. Sarah Shafer - Mechanical Engineer
Dr. Ian Teh - Mechanical Engineer
Dr. Shawn Greenberg - Mechanical Engineer
Dr. Jen Lin-Liu - Xenobiologist.
Captain Marshall thumbs the coms button for a station wide announcement. All crew of Hope will assemble in the cargo bay at 1730.
Glancing down at his watch, Capt. Marshall sees that he still has twenty minutes before he has to give his final briefing. He makes his way over to the galley to grab a squeezebag of coffee before heading to the cargo hold.
Quote:
If anyone is interested in playing, this will be a freeform, hard sf story with no set rules. Simply pick a crew member from the list above and play. There will be very little combat. If you like hard sf let's go.