A spacecraft army and nuclear explosions are part of NASA’s plans to protect Earth from potentially catastrophic asteroids.
NASA has made plans using their knowledge of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago for their National Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan.
The plan put in place is a multi-pronged proactive measure to prepare for any near-Earth objects (NEOs) that could pose a significant threat. NASA administrator Bill Nelson said: “NASA is committed to protecting Earth from potentially hazardous asteroids and comets.
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“Planetary defence benefits all of humanity and NASA’s strategy and action plan outlines how we will continue to protect our home planet over the next decade.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Although no immediate asteroid threats are looming, NASA is taking proactive measures to prepare for the worst-case scenarios, reports News18.
A cornerstone of the plan involves deploying an “army” of 1,000 spacecrafts designed to crash into the asteroids and alter their trajectories. NASA successfully demonstrated this technique in 2022, which proved that Earth has a viable defence against incoming threats from space.
Nuclear explosions are another prong with which NASA is prepared to protect Earth.
If a large asteroid, like the one which led to the extinction of dinosaurs, was heading to Earth and expected to collide in a few months, NASA looked to the 1998 film “Armageddon”. They could launch nuclear explosions to break it up, deflect the asteroid and knock it off course.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Lindley Johnson, NASA’s planetary defence officer, said: “An asteroid impact with Earth has potential for catastrophic devastation, and it is also the only natural disaster humanity now has sufficient technology to completely prevent.”
The plan also includes a focus to improve detection and tracking capabilities. Johnson said: “The release of this NASA strategy steps up NASA’s intentions for the next 10 years to ensure the agency works both nationally and internationally to protect our planet for the benefit of all.”
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