Asteroid impact could be stopped with nuclear missiles, study suggests

On Oct 17, 2021

Asteroid impacts are one of the most dangerous possible natural disasters, as humanity currently lacks a reliable means of defense against them. One possible solution, using nuclear weapons or similarly destructive means, is something commonly seen in science fiction movies, but is frowned upon by many scientists due to the possibility of fragments of the asteroid causing significant damage.

But according to new research, this may not be as damaging as previously thought.

The study, published in the academic journal Acta Astronautica and led by Patrick King of John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, sought to study the fragments of an asteroid destroyed by a nuclear missile or another similarly destructive object.

The study utilized a simulation program called Spheral, which is designed to track the fragments of an asteroid destroyed by such a process, which is known as asteroid disruption.

An asteroid is shown in an artist’s rendition crashing into Earth in an event that scientists believe occurred in the Caribbean region at the boundary of the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods in Earth’s geologic history about 65 million years ago causing the extinction of dinosaurs. (credit: REUTERS)

The simulation in question used the model of a one-megaton nuclear bomb detonating on the surface of an asteroid measuring 100 meters long and accounted for several possible different orbits, the sun, and the gravity by other large objects in space. It was also assumed that the asteroid was hit with the bomb several months ahead of its planned impact against the planet.

The simulations presented the researchers with some promising results. In some, well over 99% of the fragments missed the Earth after the asteroid itself was destroyed.

This alleviates one of the main worries regarding disruption: the damage caused by fragments.

“Simply stated, for a 100-meter object that’s projected to hit Earth, if we employ a robust nuclear disruption technique by at least one month before impact, we can prevent 99% or more of the impacting mass from hitting the Earth,” King told the news outlet Gizmodo.

The one-month aspect is considerably important, too. In an exercise earlier this year, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies ran its biannual impact simulation, this time focusing on a fictional asteroid 2021 PDC that was just discovered ahead of a planned impact with the planet that was just six months away, and the participants were forced to find some kind of solution to the impact.

Due to the danger of asteroid impacts, scientists at NASA and other agencies worldwide have studied and cataloged all Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) such as these asteroids, some of which edge close to the planet and are thus labeled Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs). Because many of these are spotted from far away, it seems unlikely that months would go by before humanity notices an incoming asteroid, but the possibility remains, especially since many aspects are difficult to fully predict. And even a small one could do considerable damage.

For comparison, the last known…

Asteroid impact could be stopped with nuclear missiles, study suggests

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