NASA opens the contest

The US Aeronautics Agency (NASA) organized a competition for scientists to help them "hunt" the asteroids that could hit Earth.

On March 10, NASA announced a contest called 'Asteroid Data Hunter' (Asteroid Data Hunter) for scientists to develop algorithms to identify surrounding asteroids. Earth. The prize for the winner of the competition amounted to 35,000 USD (more than 700 million VND).

There are millions of asteroids orbiting the Sun and scientists want to identify as many asteroids as possible. Determining the location of asteroids will help humans avoid the catastrophic destruction of dinosaurs before.

If asteroid is detected, NASA will conduct exploration and research.(Photo: NASA)

While NASA claims that the giant asteroid will and on Earth in 2036 as many people know is unlikely (only at 1 / 48,000 scale), scientists seem to give up. through many collisions with small asteroids over the years.

Typically in February last year, an asteroid about 20 meters in size exploded the sky of Russia with the power equivalent to 500 thousand tons of TNT explosions that injured more than 1,000 people.

'The number of asteroids identified at the present time is only 1% of the actual number flying around the Sun's orbit,' said Chris Lewicki, President and Chief Engineer of Planetary Resources. 'We are delighted to partner with NASA in this competition to enhance our knowledge of asteroids that may exist at risk of human or resource richness'.

NASA's goal is to discover unknown asteroids and then track and describe them. In this competition, scientists will be allowed to use images from terrestrial observatories to develop algorithms that identify asteroids. If it detects a potentially dangerous asteroid, NASA will find a way to deflect the asteroid.

'To protect the earth from asteroids, first understand them,' said Jenn Gustetic, who runs NASA contests and awards. ' By opening the asteroid search competition, we will harness the creative potential of scientists everywhere to help solve this global challenge.'

NASA's competition will begin March 17 and will last for 6 months.