Mankind will soon have the ability to move the Earth into a new orbit, say a team of astronomers. The planetary manoeuvre may more than double the time life can survive on our planet, they believe. Using the well-understood “gravitational sling shot” technique that has been employed to send space probes to the outer planets, the researchers now think a large asteroid could be used to reposition the Earth to maintain a benign global climate. It is an “alarmingly simple” technique, the astronomers say. It could ensure humanity’s survival and even allow our descendants to alter our Solar System to move moons and planets to make new Earths.