NASA’s new strategy to protect Earth from asteroids is inspired by the extinction of dinosaurs – News18

NASA has outlined its latest strategy to protect Earth from potentially catastrophic asteroids, drawing inspiration from the event that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago. The recently unveiled National Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan outlines a multi-pronged approach to combating near-Earth objects (NEOs) that pose a significant threat.

Although no immediate asteroid threat looms, NASA is taking proactive steps to prepare for worst-case scenarios. One major proposal is to deploy an “army” of 1,000 spacecraft to intercept and deflect large asteroids before they reach Earth. In extreme cases, the plan even includes the possibility of using nuclear devices to shatter or redirect these space rocks – a concept similar to that of the 1998 film Armageddon.

The DART mission

A cornerstone of NASA’s defense plan focuses on the use of kinetic impactors, spacecraft designed to crash into asteroids and change their trajectories. In 2022, NASA successfully demonstrated this technique with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. The mission involved the intentional collision of a spacecraft with a non-threatening asteroid, proving that NASA can change the trajectory of potentially dangerous asteroids.

This step reveals that even with the vastness of space, Earth has a viable defense mechanism against incoming threats.

“As we saw with the success of the DART mission, NASA is committed to protecting Earth from potentially dangerous asteroids and comets,” said Administrator Bill Nelson. “Planetary defense benefits all of humanity, and NASA’s Strategy and Action Plan outlines how we will continue to protect our planet over the next decade.”

The nuclear option

In scenarios where an asteroid is detected without warning, NASA is prepared to use more drastic measures. If a large asteroid were just months away from colliding with Earth, a nuclear explosion could be used to deflect or fragment it, reducing the risk of a planet-wide catastrophe.

NASA’s plans recognize the immense consequences of an asteroid impact similar to the Chicxulub event, which led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Such an impact would cause massive destruction, releasing intense heat and dust clouds that could block sunlight for long periods, triggering an “impact winter” and potentially causing a mass extinction.

“An asteroid impact with Earth could cause catastrophic devastation, and it is also the only natural disaster that humanity now has enough technology to completely prevent,” said Lindley Johnson, planetary defense officer at NASA. “The release of this NASA Strategy reinforces NASA’s intentions for the next 10 years, aimed at ensuring the agency works domestically and internationally to protect our planet for the benefit of all.”