World Science and Technology Photos 2012

NASA astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger anchoring a mock-up of Geo-Physical Array into the sea bottom simulating the Surface of an asteroid. MeeT Brit Lightyear - the British spaceman who could be called upon to save the world from Armageddon. Major Tim Peake, 40 - Britain's first official astronaut - is part of a specialist team training to land on an asteroid, just like in the Hollywood blockbuster starring Bruce Willis. Their research could prove vital in preventing a catastrophic collision that would see life on earth wiped out. The mission, carried out by NASA Extreme Environment Missions Operations, will eventually see the a manned shuttle propelled up to three million miles into space. There they will reach speeds of up to 55,000mph through a swing-by - where a planet's gravity is used to increase speed - as they attempt to dock on the surface and carry out crucial research. But should an meteorite find itself on a catastrophic collision course with earth, a manned mission could be used to deflect it. And Brit Tim would be in line to answer the call as bruce Willis' oil magnate character did in the hit film Armageddon.[Photo/CFP]