Russia may send spacecraft to knock away asteroid

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, Associated Press Writer – Wed Dec 30, 9:34 pm ET

"MOSCOW – Russia's space agency chief said Wednesday a spacecraft may be dispatched to knock a large asteroid off course and reduce the chances of earth impact, even though U.S. scientists say such a scenario is unlikely.

Anatoly Perminov told Golos Rossii radio the space agency would hold a meeting soon to assess a mission to Apophis. He said his agency might eventually invite NASA, the European Space Agency, the Chinese space agency and others to join the project.

When the 270-meter (885-foot) asteroid was first discovered in 2004, astronomers estimated its chances of smashing into Earth in its first flyby, in 2029, at 1-in-37."

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Recent Loss of a Friend

Oct. 13, 1932—Oct. 1, 2009

"Monsignor John C. Weimer, a priest, scholar and campus minister whose learned sermons in a basement chapel drew an audience of Catholic judges, politicians and other professionals, died Thursday in Sisters Hospital after battling cancer. He was 76.

Father Weimer spent 35 years in campus ministry and was known for his ability to challenge and inspire parishioners—among them former Rep. John LaFalce, U. S. District Court Judge John Curtin and former Mayor Anthony Masiello— with his liberal-leaning homilies inside Buffalo State College’s Newman Center."

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Despite the Defeat