A nuclear blast could save Earth from an asteroid, but there's a catch
A faster Sandia model found that blast direction can change deflection speed nearly fivefold and spin by a factor of 17.
- A new study published in Icarus shows asteroid shape and blast direction significantly impact deflection success, with researchers at Sandia National Laboratories finding that targeting matters far more than previously understood for planetary defense.
- Previously, researchers struggled to model irregular asteroid shapes without sacrificing calculation precision. Physicist Nathan Moore and his team developed a new algorithm combining ALEGRA and SPARTA that is more than 1,600 times faster than previous approaches.
- Simulations reveal radiation direction dramatically alters results. Exposing the same asteroid to X-rays from different directions changed its forward speed by 3.9 millimeters per second in one scenario and just 0.8 millimeters per second in another.
- Rotation is equally sensitive, with spin changing by a factor of 17 depending on where X-rays arrive. Moore said, "Our study shows how important it is to aim carefully."
- Despite these findings, the model currently only considers surface rock breakup and cannot yet accurately predict if an entire asteroid body would fracture. Understanding how internal structures respond to intense nuclear radiation will require additional research.
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11 Articles
Scientists have created a simulation to find out if we can smash asteroids heading towards Earth
Scientists are using a nuclear explosion to prevent a devastating impact from an asteroid heading towards Earth. New research is investigating whether the planetary defense plan could work.
Why scientists say nuking an asteroid could backfire
If an asteroid were heading straight for Earth, blowing it up with a nuclear weapon might sound like a pretty reasonable plan. Unfortunately, scientists have discovered that even getting the explosion right might not be enough. Where you hit the asteroid could determine whether you successfully push it away or barely change its course. A […] Read the original article here: Why scientists say nuking an asteroid could backfire
Why is the shape of the space body so important for success? A nuclear explosion can save the Earth from collision with a dangerous asteroid, but the wrong direction of impact can only exacerbate the situation. Physics has found that the effectiveness of such protection depends on the shape of the space body and the side on which it will explode. This is reported by RBK-Ukraine with reference to a study published in the scientific journal ICARUS…
Science Daily
Science Tech UpdatesA nuclear blast could save Earth from an asteroid, but there's a catch
A nuclear explosion might save Earth from a deadly asteroid, but new research suggests that hitting the wrong side could make the difference between success and disaster. Scientists found that an asteroid's irregular shape can dramatically affect how it responds to an X-ray blast, with deflection effectiveness varying nearly fivefold depending on the angle.
The idea of using a nuclear explosion to deflect an asteroid from impact with Earth and avoid a collision is a familiar concept in science fiction movies. New research by Sandia National Laboratories in the United States has revealed that the effectiveness of altering the asteroid's trajectory with a nuclear explosion varies greatly depending on the asteroid's shape. Even with the same asteroid, the direction in which the explosion's energy is d…
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