- Chinese scientists claim to have identified the most effective method to bury and detonate a nuclear device inside a large asteroid, aiming to prevent a potentially catastrophic collision with Earth.
- This approach is deemed crucial for dealing with large space rocks or asteroids with short warning times, where other deflection methods, such as Nasa’s Dart mission, may not be effective.
- The proposed method involves a spacecraft releasing a penetration device to excavate a deep crater on the asteroid, into which a nuclear device is then guided for detonation.
- Simulations indicated that an explosion equivalent to 200 Hiroshima bombs could completely destroy an asteroid approximately 100 metres across, with burying the bomb 30 metres deep tripling its effectiveness.
- The research provides a vital foundation for planning and designing defences against large or short-warning-time asteroids, suggesting nuclear blasts could be the most effective means of protection.
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