A new laboratory experiment conducted by an international team of researchers has reinforced the idea that a nuclear detonation above an incoming asteroid could effectively prevent a catastrophic impact on Earth. The study confirmed that X-rays emitted by a suitably-sized nuclear blast could deflect asteroids as large as 3 to 5 kilometers (around 2 to 3 miles) wide, potentially steering them off a collision course with our planet.
While there is no immediate threat from hazardous near-Earth asteroids, the catastrophic potential of an unexpected impact makes it crucial to develop reliable strategies for planetary defense.
Nuclear Option: Our Best Bet for Large Asteroids
Recent success in asteroid deflection was demonstrated by NASA’s DART mission, which successfully altered the orbit of Dimorphos, a small asteroid, by crashing a heavy probe into it. However, larger, more solid asteroids present a different challenge. A nuclear detonation might be the most feasible method to deal with such a threat.
The new experiment, led by physicist Nathan Moore at Sandia National Laboratories, used the Z Pulsed Power Facility to simulate the effects of X-rays generated by a nuclear explosion. A burst of 1.5 megajoules of X-rays blasted a small grain of fused silica, simulating how radiation could vaporize an asteroid’s surface and create a “rocket effect” to push the object off its dangerous trajectory.
The researchers believe this method could move asteroids up to 5 kilometers in diameter, providing a realistic option for larger, more threatening space rocks.
Alternative Deflection Techniques
The study highlights that nuclear detonation is just one of several potential methods for asteroid deflection. Other ideas include using focused lasers or fusion engines to nudge asteroids, or even warming the asteroid’s surface to produce gas jets that could push it off course.
Regardless of the technique, the goal remains the same: develop a tested, reliable strategy to avert disaster before it’s too late. The nuclear X-ray approach is particularly promising for its ability to work on larger asteroids that may not respond well to physical impacts or other deflection methods.
Preparing for the Unexpected
Although no immediate asteroid threats are currently on the horizon, and large “city-killer” asteroids are expected to stay clear of Earth for now, planetary defense experts agree that we must be prepared for the worst. The new research, published in Nature Physics, brings us closer to understanding how to prevent a potential asteroid catastrophe.
As the study concludes, “Should a bullet with our name on it come whizzing out of the darkness, we should know exactly how to bake it back into oblivion.”
Reference: https://www.sciencealert.com/a-nuclear-explosion-could-protect-earth-from-an-asteroid-catastrophe