Is Deflecting Killer Asteroids Impossible? 😨

[YouCanCallMeUsername]

Ah yes, the best method is to wrap the asteroid in foil💀

[Missionmoench]

I see scientists are finally adopting the “Rock Paper Scissors” method

[itapesand]

Whoever thought of wrapping an asteroid in foil is crazy

[snasy_boi]

Fun fact: NASA has developed a way to perhaps stop these asteroids. They launch a object to fly it it, similar to a missile, and it hits the asteroid to knock it out of its trajectory. It’s not made to break the asteroid, but to bounce it so that it can stop its way to earth.

[Blub_]

Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) was a NASA space mission aimed at testing a method of planetary defense against near-Earth objects (NEOs).[4][5] It was designed to assess how much a spacecraft impact deflects an asteroid through its transfer of momentum when hitting the asteroid head-on.[6] The selected target asteroid, Dimorphos, is a minor-planet moon of the asteroid Didymos; neither asteroid poses an impact threat to Earth, but their joint characteristics made them an ideal benchmarking target. Launched on 24 November 2021, the DART spacecraft successfully collided with Dimorphos on 26 September 2022 at 23:14 UTC about 11 million kilometers (0.074 astronomical units; 29 lunar distances; 6.8 million miles) from Earth. The collision shortened Dimorphos' orbit by 32 minutes, greatly in excess of the pre-defined success threshold of 73 seconds

TLDR: NASA launched a rocket at an asteroid and it successfully changed its orbit

[The_Cat_Commenter]

How tf are we going to wrap a asteroid in foil💀

[morganametcalfe]

Alien: oh no! i cant control my astroid anymore!

Alien: This can only mean 1 thing! FOIL

[FawkesGuy]

Earth:Help a Asteroid
Jupiter:don’t worry lil bro

[Hariprasad-cdbi]

The purpose of kinetic impact is to change the trajectory, not to blow it up. Even a very minute deviation in trajectory, when coupled with the distance of tens of thousands of kilometers of distance makes huge difference

[YoYoLogo]

NASA proved that you could stop an asteroid with the DART mission.

[Agent_Drax]

They got Dr Doofenshmirtz on board for that second plan ☠️

[Joel-mzgg]

Deflecting a killer asteroid is not impossible, but it is a highly complex and challenging task. While various strategies have been proposed, each comes with significant obstacles related to the size, speed, and unpredictability of asteroids. Here’s a breakdown of the possibilities and challenges:

1. Kinetic Impact (Hitting the Asteroid)

How it works: A spacecraft would collide with the asteroid at high speeds, transferring momentum and nudging it off course.

Challenges: The asteroid would need to be hit with tremendous force, and the amount of deflection required to avoid an Earth collision may need to be done years in advance. The asteroid’s composition (solid rock vs. loose rubble) can also affect how much the impact would shift its trajectory.


2. Nuclear Explosions

How it works: A nuclear device could be detonated near or on the surface of the asteroid to vaporize part of it, creating a force that pushes the asteroid away.

Challenges: This method could risk fragmenting the asteroid into smaller pieces, which could still pose a threat to Earth. It also requires precise timing and proximity to the asteroid to avoid unintended consequences.


3. Gravity Tractor

How it works: A spacecraft would fly alongside the asteroid and use its own gravitational pull to slowly pull the asteroid off its path over a long period of time.

Challenges: This method would require a lot of time (decades or even centuries), and the spacecraft would need to be able to remain in close proximity for an extended period, which presents engineering challenges.


4. Solar Sails or Laser Ablation

How it works: Solar sails could be used to slowly push the asteroid by reflecting sunlight. Alternatively, a laser could be focused on the asteroid to vaporize part of it, creating thrust.

Challenges: Both methods require significant time and precision. Solar sails work very slowly, and laser ablation requires powerful lasers and precision targeting.


5. Changing the Asteroid’s Orbit via Mass Drivers or Other Means

How it works: Techniques like launching mass from the asteroid's surface (a mass driver) could change its momentum slightly, causing a long-term shift in its trajectory.

Challenges: This requires advanced technology that doesn’t yet exist, and would need to be implemented far ahead of time.


Timing and Detection

The biggest challenge is the time required to detect a potentially hazardous asteroid and then implement a solution. Many asteroids are difficult to track, especially those that might be on a collision course with Earth but are still far away.


Current Research

NASA and other space agencies are actively researching asteroid deflection techniques. For instance, NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission successfully tested kinetic impact by changing the orbit of an asteroid’s moonlet in 2022. It showed that altering an asteroid’s course with a spacecraft is possible, though more research is needed to refine these methods for larger, potentially Earth-threatening asteroids.


Conclusion

While deflecting a "killer" asteroid isn’t impossible, it is currently beyond our capabilities to reliably prevent one from hitting Earth without years of preparation and significant technological advancements. The more time we have to detect an asteroid, the better our chances of finding a viable deflection method. However, it's crucial to continue research and prepare for the possibility.

[eduardocasado]

Backyardigans Pablo with a tennis racket: Nah I'd win

[samsam]

“Hey there’s an asteroid headed our way! We are all gonna die!”
Zac: “Hand me the foil”

[Zstrfourshines]

"Can the earth be saved"

Zack: Yesn't

[IDDGamesalot]

An asteroid that size would probably be more spherical due to its gravity

[xavierburval]

Seems like someone’s never heard of the DART mission…

[asaugh]

"this theory hasn't been tested" id be surprised asf if it did lol

[sycom-]

Man science is so advanced nowadays, I never would have thought to use tin foil to stop the asteroid. I always thought parchment paper was the only way.

[LifeEnjoyer-joyb]

“You can’t nuke the asteroid”
America: wanna bet.