'Fighting' with anti-meteorite 'apocalypse'

There are many ways to deal with meteorites, but these methods are divided into two main groups: deflecting or destroying meteorites.

Most scientists think that the best way to deal with meteorites is to deflect its direction. Destroying meteors into small pieces is not always effective because debris that hit the Earth at high velocity can still have great destructive power.

Missile mounted nuclear warheads

In 2007, NASA's Marshall Space Travel Center announced plans to design a rocket-powered spacecraft with a nuclear warhead to deflect a life-threatening asteroid on Earth.

The spacecraft is 8.9 meters long, carrying 6 interceptor missiles, each weighing 1,500kg attached to a 1.2 megaton B83 nuclear warhead. Nuclear warheads will explode at a distance of one-third of the asteroid diameter, creating an impact on the direction of the dangerous object.

At the top of each missile has a nuclear warhead attached
B83 1.2 megaton, with a total volume of 11,035kg

The target of the spacecraft is the asteroid Apophis, which is expected to fly over the Earth in April 2029. If all goes well, maybe by 2020 or 2021, the ship will go into operation.

According to NASA, by the year 2020, 'the solution to intercept missiles can deflect objects near Earth with a diameter of 100 - 500 meters at 2 years before the collision; for larger objects it takes at least 5 years'.

Unmanned spacecraft

Another way to deal with it is to use an unmanned spacecraft to crash into a meteorite, deflecting its direction.

Scientists plan to use a spacecraft
driver to deflect Apophis asteroid.

This method is researched by the European Space Agency (ESA) in the mission of the Don Quijote space. The target is also the asteroid Apophis. According to the current calculation results, the risk of this asteroid collision with the Earth in 2036 is 1 / 250,000.

The Don Quijote project involves launching two spacecraft to asteroids. The Hidalgo spacecraft will crash into it; and Sancho will arrive first, fly around the asteroid trajectory for several months to obtain data before and after the collision, thus studying how this trajectory has changed.

Gravity tractor

If scientists can detect which meteorite is soon to crash into Earth, the most effective countermeasure is to send a smart probe to a designated rendezvous point and fly with that meteorite.

When both move in parallel, the ship's gravity, though modest, will impact a pull on the meteorite. Over the months or years, this 'gravity tractor' will pull meteorites into a different orbit with a lower risk of loss.

NASA's Dawn spacecraft

This method has been applied a lot in practice. A series of exploration ships have access to space meteorites, including NASA's Dawn spacecraft, currently monitoring giant meteorite Vesta.

In 2005, Japan's Hayabusa probe even pulled out some of the Itokawa asteroids and sent samples to Earth for analysis.

Solar

With this option, a series of mini spacecraft carrying large mirrors will approach dangerous meteors. They are responsible for reflecting sunlight onto a certain point on the meteorite. Over time, the increase in heat will cause some substances on the meteorite surface to evaporate, forming a stream of air to push it into another orbit.

According to Bill Nye, CEO of the Planetary Association, which studies the mysteries of the universe: 'The chemical reaction of gases or some other substances that evaporate from meteorites will make its orbit shift. '.

However, this method requires spacecraft to be equipped with a system of giant lenses and magnifying glass near the Earth. Moreover, the spacecraft must be accurately launched in the direction of the Sun to be effective.

The Planetary Association is raising funds to expand research on this method. According to Bill, the plan has not yet been implemented in practice but will soon be completed in about five years.

Robots break stones

In 2004, SpaceWorks (USA) completed a preliminary study of a new type of robot called MADMEN, powered by nuclear power and equipped with an electronic device. This unit functions to pop the pieces of rock that have been drilled from the meteorite and toss them into space. The tossing force will create a reaction to robots as well as meteors. The reaction builds up after each toss will cause the meteorite to move and gradually change direction.

As expected, MADMEN will weigh about 1 ton, 11m high, launched on a meteor by rockets. The performance of the prismatic machine is 1 time / minute.

MADMEN rock breaker robot model

Since each MADMEN only makes a small push on meteorites, scientists believe that a "army" of robots must be sent to be successful.

The project is strongly supported by NASA's NIAC Research Institute, but scientists will have to do more research, because the annual breakdown time requires high technical precision. In addition, it is necessary to build a nuclear power station on the universe to supply robots.