It sounds like a Hollywood film script, but NASA has revealed plans to land a spacecraft on an asteroid. British scientists have designed a spacecraft which they claim is capable of saving Earth from a catastrophic asteroid collision.

A team at British space company EADS Astrium has made the spacecraft, called “gravity tractor”, which will be deployed when an orbiting rock is detected on a collision course with Earth — in fact, it will intercept the asteroid and position itself to fly alongside it, just 160 feet from its surface.And, from this position, the ten-tonne craft will exert a small gravitational force on the rock, pulling the asteroid towards it. By gradually modifying its course, over several years, the gravity tractor will slowly shift the asteroid’s trajectory enough to ensure it misses the Earth.

According to the scientists, the spacecraft could divert asteroids that are up to 430 yards across
— big enough to release 100,000 times more energy than the nuclear bomb dropped by the US on Hiroshima in 1945.

The plans were revealed in a NASA study by scientists at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and the Ames Research Center in California, which is due to be published next month.

The experts envisage sending a small team of astronauts on a three-month journey to the asteroid, spending a week or two on the rock’s surface. The capsule would have to attach itself because asteroids, unlike the moon, have almost zero gravity.

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has designed a nuclear-warhead-carrying spacecraft, to be launched by the US agency's proposed 's Ares V cargo launch vehicle, to deflect an asteroid that could threaten all life on Earth.The 8.9m (29ft)-long "Cradle" spacecraft would carry six 1,500kg (3,300lb) missile-like interceptor vehicles that would carry one 1.2MT B83 nuclear warhead each, with a total mass of 11,035kg.

A kinetic "bullet" version would use this interceptor design, but have an inert warhead instead of a nuclear one. In both cases the lidar would acquire the target NEO at 5,000km (3,100 miles) distance, with TRP closing velocities of up to 10,000m/s (1,968,503ft/min).

The Marshall study also has a solar collector option that has a very different vehicle design to the warhead and kinetic vehicles. The collector, which is more like an orbiter probe, would maintain station near the NEO and use a 100m-diameter inflatable parabolic collector membrane to focus sunlight into a "thruster" that directs that energy on to the NEO's surface. The heating of surface material evaporates it generating thrust and deflection.

The spacecraft's target near-Earth object (NEO) is the Apophis asteroid, which will pass by the Earth within the orbit of the Moon in April 2029.

For the study, however, its orbit was changed to bring it into a "dead-centre" collision course with Earth and its mass was assumed to be 1,000,000kg. The spacecraft's possible launch dates were 2020 and 2021.

By the 2020's NASA concluded that "the nuclear interceptor option can deflect NEOs of (100-500m diameter) two years before impact, and larger NEOs with at least five years warning".

Team member Ralph Cordey was quoted by the Daily Telegraph as saying: “Anything bigger than 30 metres across is a real threat to the Earth. Unfortunately it is a matter of when rather than if one of them hits us. The gravity tractor exploits the principals of very basic physics —every object with a mass has its own gravity that affects objects around it. It can move fairly large objects 300 metres to 400 metres across”.

“These asteroids are hurtling around our solar system at 10km per second, so when you scale that up, you just need a tiny nudge to send it off course”, he added.

The team has designed the gravity tractor and planned details of the mission. The craft can be built in a relatively short time, using existing technologies, if an asteroid were detected on a collision course. But, it is likely that it would require an international agreement to send a mission in space.

“We’ve designed the mission using the technology we currently have available, so it could be put into practice at any time,” Christian Trenkel, who has worked on the mission plans, said.

The Lander would have a constant thrust motor to keep it in contact with the NEO's surface in the low-gravity environment and have three seismic sensors on the end of three long legs with surface penetrating spikes. The seismic sensors would detect the effect of the observer's impactors' arrival.

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1. Virgin Mary ... The mother of all mothers, Mary's pregnancy was the result of an immaculate conception. She has been depicted in hundreds of thousands of sculptures, icons and paintings, often holding her only son Jesus. 

2. Mother Nature ... From flash floods to firestorms she has shaped our environment for better or worse from the beginings of time.

3. Diana, Princess of Wales ... Her caring nature and tireless commitment to charity work made the mother-of-two the "People's Princess" prior to her tragic early death in 1997.

4. Marge Simpson ... The long suffering wife of Homer and mother of Maggie, Bart and Lisa has been described as the linchpin of the world's most famous animated family .

5. Maria from The Sound of Music ... The one-time Catholic Nun-turned-governess-turned-stepmother sang her way into the hearts of the von Trapp children and their father in the much-loved Rogers and Hammerstien musical.

6. Nadya Suleman ... Dubbed "The Octomom" following the birth of her eight children earlier this year, the single mother already had six children under seven when she gave birth.

7. Lindy Chamberlain ... Her contention that a dingo had taken her two-month-old baby Azaria, was at the centre of one of Australia's most publicised trials. She was found guilty of murder but susequently had her conviction overturned.

8. Angelina Jolie ... The actress, UN campaigner and partner of Brad Pitt, has an ever-expanding clan, which includes three biological children as well as two adopted sons from Asia and an African daughter Zahara.

9. Mother Theresa ... She never had any children of her own, but the late Catholic nun spent 45 years on the streets of Calcutta, ministering to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in the years following her death in 2007.

10. Jane McGrath ... She dreamed of watching her two children Holly and James grow up, but tragically for the wife of cricket star Glenn McGrath (pictured), they were wishes that were destined to remain unfulfilled. She died of breast cancer last June aged 42.

11. Terry Irwin ... Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin's widow is also the mother of his children, Bindi and Bob, both of whom have become TV stars in their own right.

12. Carol Brady from The Brady Bunch ... TV's pioneer stepmother set new and entirely unattainable standards for blended families everywhere with her endless optimism, boundless patience and oft-heard warning not to "play ball in the house." 

13. Paula Yates ... The mother of Fifi Trixibell, Peaches Honeyblossom, Little Pixie and Heavenly Hiraani Tigerlilly will be remembered as much for her predilection for unusual names as for her unothodox life which culminated in her death in 2000 from a drug overdose. 

14. Kath Day-Knight from Kath & Kim ... When she wasn't busy hassling daugher Kim about losing weight or meddling in the life of the helpless Sharon, the "foxy moron" from Fountain Gate was coming to terms with becoming a grandmother to Epponee-Rae .

15. This gap is only for your's, coz I don't have any other options .. tell me "Who The One " will be appropriate in this place .... 

Hope to here you soon....

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IF you're an animal lover here are some places to visit around the world to see weird and wonderful endangered animals. To me animals are always innocent... so let's join our hands to save this wonderful creation of earth. PLEASE !!.. What you Say ? It will be highly appreciative if you comment !!
Thanks...

BUENOS AIRES ZOO, ARGENTINA

Three 45 day-old Bengal White Tigers cubs are seen at their cage in the Buenos Aires Zoo.

The Bengal White Tiger is found exlusively within South Asia, however several zoos around the world keep them in captivity.

TARONGA ZOO, SYDNEY

A zookeeper holds a Fijian Crested Iguana at Sydney's Taronga Zoo.

Only a few wild populations remain of the endangered iguana which is found on several Fijian islands.

The species faces possible extinction due to habitat destruction and competition from introduced species.

EDINBURGH ZOO, SCOTLAND

Indah, a three week old Malayan Tapir, chews on a twig at Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland.

Malayan Tapirs, which are an endangered species, are hoofed animals related to rhinos and horses and are found in the forests of Malaysia, Thailand, Burma and Sumatra.

MELBOURNE ZOO

Seven-year-old Timika, an endangered Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo from New Guinea, will be helped by a Melbourne Zoo foundation.

SAN DIEGO ZOO, US

Three critically endangered Burmese Star Tortoises at the San Diego Zoo, the first time this species has successfully reproduced at the facility.

The Burmese Star Tortoise is not often bred in zoos, but with more as-yet-unhatched eggs, animal care staff are hoping that more of the tortoises emerge.

The reptile is almost extinct in its native Myanmar as its numbers dwindle due to deforestation and hunting, both for food and profit .

BUDAPEST ZOO, HUNGARY

One of the Budapest Zoo's three six-week-old Mandrill babies (Mandrillus Sphinx) rests in the lap of its mother during the first public appearance in Budapest, 2007.

The Mandrill is one of the endangered species of West Africa, for which a breeding program is coordinated at the Budapest Zoo.

PERTH ZOO

A Numbat, one of Australia's most endangered animals, at Perth Zoo.

ATLANTA ZOO, US

Yang-Yang, left, and Lun-Lun stare into the viewing area at Atlanta Zoo as people visit the two Giant Pandas.

GOBI DESERT, MONGOLIA

The Long-eared Jerboa is an extraordinary mammal found in the deserts of Mongolia and China.

The tiny creature looks like a mouse-sized kangaroo with enormous ears. This endangered animal was filmed during a recent Zoological Society of London expedition to the Mongolian Gobi desert to track down and assess the species.

BEKESBOURNE, UK

Three eleven week old Siberian Tiger cubs, Sayan, Altai, and Altay with mum Nika at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Bekesbourne, England.

Siberian Tigers feature in the top 10 of the world's most endangered creatures.

The three cubs were named after mountain ranges in Siberia.

TASMANIA

A healthy Tasmanian Devil joey displayed as part of an intensive conservation programme, because of the spread of an infectious facial tumour which gradually disfigures the animal's face to the point it is unable to eat.

GAUHATI, INDIA

A Slow Loris, an endangered species, in Gauhati, India.

The Slow Loris, the name given because of slow pace of its strides has no tail, is pygmy sized and sports two beautiful and large eyes but a toxic bite .

MEMPHIS ZOO, US

Holly, an 18-month-old female southern baby White Rhino from the Memphis Zoo, being introduced to the herd in the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

Holly was transferred to San Diego as part of an endangered species survival program which manages the White Rhino population in zoos.

TOWNSVILLE, QUEENSLAND

An endangered Australian wedge-tailed eagle holds a rat in its beak during feeding demonstration at Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville.

SINGAPORE ZOO

A Matschie's Tree Kangaroo, the only one at the Singapore Zoo, is seen in the Fragile Forest section which houses animals in danger of extinction.

Papua New Guinea, long derided for allowing widespread illegal logging, has created a conservation areas the size of Singapore to protect the bear-like, tree kangaroos and other endangered species.

UTICA ZOO, NEW YORK, US

Two baby Tamarins, a male and female, cling to a stuffed toy Tamarin held by a zoo keeper at the Utica zoo in Utica, New York.

The two endangered golden Tamarins were rejected by their mother, so in order to keep the babies from imprinting 100 per cent on the humans caring for them, the keepers placed the toy in the incubator where the parents live.

WERRIBEE ZOO, VICTORIA

An endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoot fed by a keeper during a public forum on captive breeding and conservation.

INDONESIA

A Moluccan, or Salmon crested, cockatoo pictured in a cage.

Illegal traders exploited the religious conflict in Indonesia's Maluku province in May to traffic and sell hundreds of the endangered birds, a species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) .

NAIROBI, AFRICA

Endangered Rothschild Giraffes lean to receive food from tourists at the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi.

At least six distinct species of giraffe, the world's tallest land animal, may be in existence and some of them are critically endangered, scientists in the United States and Kenya have found.

LINCOLN PARK ZOO, CHICAGO, US

After living in its mother's pouch for more than three months, an endangered Brush-tailed Bettong joey emerged at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

This tiny marsupial which only weighs 0.9 to 1.3kgs when fully grown is native to Southwestern Australia. This rare species was nearly extinct in the wild by the early 1900s due to predation by introduced animals like cats, rats and foxes.

Fortunately, managed breeding programs and recovery efforts are underway to ensure the species survival.

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An ice bridge which held a vast Antarctic ice shelf in place shattered on Saturday, raising fears about global warming.

Scientists are concerned that greater collapses will now occur in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Satellite images from the European Space Agency show that a 25-mile-long strip of ice believed to pin the Wilkins Ice Shelf in place had splintered at its narrowest point, about 500 metres wide.

The Wilkins ice shelf has snapped for the first time, causing consternation at the state of the environment

This may now allow ocean currents to wash away far more of the Wilkins shelf.

David Vaughan, a glaciologist with the British Antarctic Survey, said: 'We've waited a long time to see this. My feeling is that we will lose more of the ice, but there will be a remnant to the south.'

The Wilkins, now the size of Jamaica, is one of ten shelves to have shrunk or collapsed in recent decades on the peninsula.

Cores of sediments on the seabed indicate that some of these ice shelves had been in place for at least 10,000 years

Since 1950, the ice bridge that cracked apart on Saturday had more than halved in length.

Temperatures in the Antarctic have risen by up to about 5.4f (3c) in the past 50 years, the fastest rate of warming in the Southern Hemisphere.

Antarctica's response to warming will go a long way to deciding the pace of global sea level rise.

Imaging of the ice shelf and the change seen since 2008

The loss of ice shelves does not affect sea levels - floating ice contracts as it melts and so does not raise ocean levels.

But their loss can allow glaciers on land to slide more rapidly towards the sea, adding water to the oceans.

About 175 nations have been meeting in Bonn, Germany, since March 29 as part of a push to agree by the end of 2009 a new U.N. treaty to combat climate change.

Scientists say change in the Antarctic is rarely as dramatic as it has been in recent times

The U.S. is also pushing to protect Antarctica's fragile environment by imposing mandatory limits on the size of cruise ships sailing there and the number of passengers they bring ashore, minimising the likelihood of oil spills.

At a conference starting today in Baltimore, U.S. diplomats will propose amending the 50-year-old international Antarctic Treaty.

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For a millennium it has lain undisturbed beneath the waves a stone's throw from one of Britain's best-loved beaches.

But now modern technology has revealed this ancient fish trap, used at the time of the Norman Conquest.

In Photo : The giant fish trap, built during the Norman Conquest and designed to trap fish behind rock walls, was spotted on Google Earth.

Stretching more than 280 yards along the sea bed, the V-shaped structure was used to catch fish without the need for a boat or rod. Scientists believe it is one of the biggest of its kind.

The trap close to Poppit Sands on the Teifi Estuary in Dyfed was discovered by archaeologists studying aerial photographs of the West Wales coast.

In Photo : This image shows the coastline curving round with the trap visible out at sea. It is in water just 12ft deep, and the wall is around three feet wide.

It was designed to act like a rock pool, trapping fish behind its stone walls as the tide flowed out.

At its point is a gap where fisherman would have placed nets to catch fish. They could also have blocked up the gap, and then scooped up fish trapped in the shallows.

Now, however, it is submerged even at low tide and fish are no longer trapped as the water recedes. Researchers believe it has sunk into the sand over the centuries.

Dr Ziggy Otto, a diver and lecturer in the coastal environment at Pembrokeshire College, believes the trap is around 1,000 years old.

'It is an amazing structure,' he said. 'It looks well defined on the photographs, but when you are in the water it looks just like a natural reef.'

In Photo : The trap, made of stones, is located on the Teifi Estuary in Dyfed, Wales.

Although it was only recently spotted on aerial photographs, an armchair archaeologist could have discovered the trap on Google Earth.

Google said the V-shaped structure has been visible on its collection of satellite and aerial photos since at least December 2006.

Fish traps, or fish weirs, were common and controversial in Britain 1,000 years ago.

They were so effective at removing fish from rivers that they were banned in the Magna Carta, and were allowed only on the coast.

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