"Given the widespread controversy caused by the commission's approach, it is important that it should be tested at law, " says Mr Lyscom.

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The B612 group believes such a system could be ready for use by 2015, and suggests it should be tested shortly thereafter on a non-threatening asteroid.

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"It's not fully certain how those savings will impact Medicare, " and they should be tested out before further changes are made, he said.

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