Marrying asteroid defense and asteroid mining

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Combs, Mike"
>
> From: spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Robert
>
> > the problem arises in the the object is spining and tumbling,
> > so that has to be stopped before you can begin to alter its
> > path, without breaking it up.
>
> Actually, it occurs to me that might be an advantage to the focused
> solar mirror approach. One could have a consistently vectored
thrust
> without first de-spinning the asteroid.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike Combs

problem with that is the vectors will cancel themselves out, unless
the mirror is floating free of the asteroid, but with the asteroid
changing its course on a constant basis, keeping the mirror focused
would not be easy. I'm afraid that would make it rather impractical.