Scientists demonstrate that we could use nuclear weapons against an incoming asteroid.
You wouldn't want to take chances with an asteroid the size of a city.
The need to divert an asteroid could become a priority for our descendants in the future, although there is currently no imminent threat for at least the next century. Planetary defense experts are exploring various strategies to divert these large celestial bodies, and one of the boldest proposals involves using a nuclear device near the asteroid, where an explosion would generate enough energy to vaporize part of its surface, creating a temporary propellant that would change its course.
Simulating this type of scenario in space poses both logistical and financial challenges. Nevertheless, a team of researchers has used the powerful "Z Machine" in New Mexico to recreate a nuclear explosion in a controlled setting. While it has been shown that impacting an asteroid with a spacecraft can alter its trajectory, there are situations where a nuclear detonation could be crucial, especially with a limited warning time. Nathan Moore, a physicist at Sandia National Laboratories, noted that for larger asteroids, considerable force is needed to divert them in a timely manner.
The research conducted by Moore has been published in the scientific journal Nature Physics. To replicate the nuclear explosion, the team leveraged the world's most powerful X-ray generator, which produces effects similar to those of a real nuclear detonation. While on the Earth's surface, these rays would heat the air and result in a fireball, in this experiment, the Z Machine generated an X-ray bubble that impacted a small replica of an asteroid suspended in a chamber.
The researchers observed that the energy pulse created a small jet that pushed the rock away from the source of the X-rays. Although the laboratory work provides a crucial first step to understanding the dynamics of such an event, there is currently no spacecraft being developed to carry a nuclear device. Instead, the goal is to understand the implications and methods of using such explosions if they were ever needed in the future.
Despite the low probability of a significant asteroid impact today, it is essential to research and prepare on various fronts. Each year, an asteroid the size of a car enters Earth's atmosphere; however, large objects capable of causing regional devastation impact every 10,000 to 20,000 years. Meanwhile, some dangerous asteroids remain hidden by the brightness of the sun.
The scientific community continues to monitor the sky, and while many asteroids are merely ancient remnants of the formation of the solar system, their potential to cause disasters makes their study a priority. Careful planning and analysis allow for informed decisions to be made when the time is necessary, whether using nuclear methods or other alternatives to divert asteroids.
