Prepare to fight meteorite and hit Earth

An agreement is being urgently drafted to submit to the United Nations in 2009. The content of the agreement is to bind the countries' responsibility in case the meteorite hits the Earth.

In 2036, on April 13, an asteroid hit the Earth and caused a massive explosion, 80,000 times more than Hiroshima's atomic bomb during World War II.

Not a fantasy . NASA predicts, the probability of this collision is 1 / 45,000. That means, humanity has 30 years to prepare for this incident.

European and American experts are urgently drafting an agreement to submit to the United Nations in 2009. This agreement aims to bind the responsibility of the countries to respond to this entirely happening incident to the Earth, the common house of mankind.

127 objects are rushing to Earth

A large explosion will occur on Earth in the event of an object such as meteorite, asteroids hitting the Earth.Forecast, on April 13 , 2036 , means that there are 30 years left, humanity will be at risk. NASA predicts, the probability of a collision is 1 / 45,000. (Photo: softpedia)

The Space Explorers Association proposed an international treaty to protect the Earth against the risk of colliding with cosmic objects.

It could be a meteorite, an asteroid or some strange object capable of plunging into the Earth in its orbit. The object that is expected to hit Earth in 2036 is an asteroid named Apophis, 140 meters in diameter, discovered by NASA in June 2004.

According to experts' estimates, if touching Earth with a traveling speed of 28 km / h, Apophis will release an energy of 80,000 times more than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during the World War. 2.

According to the US National Air and Space Administration (NASA), about 20,000 asteroids are currently a potential threat to the Earth. Dr. Russell Schweickart, Appolo 9 astronaut and founder of the Association of Space Explorers, argued that 'among them, it is clear that there are many asteroids capable of colliding with Earth with one the probability is big enough for anyone to worry about. '

Currently, NASA is tracking all near Earth Objects (NEO ) with diameters greater than 700 meters and has identified 127 NEO capable of colliding with our planet.

The US Congress has mandated NASA to conduct more detailed studies and surveys of asteroids that threaten the Earth in the near future.

Dr. Steven Chesley, a NASA scientist, said: 'The Congress thinks that NASA's efforts are far from complete and have adjusted NASA's goals for the classification and tracking of asteroids. become one of the important missions of this organization '.

NASA's new goal is to detect all objects larger than 70 meters in diameter, and this work requires the construction of a new telescope system. However, this organization can also use the other recommended telescopes, such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) or the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System (Pan-Starrs).

NASA believes that the specific impact of the collision between Earth and an asteroid like Apophis will depend on the asteroid's composition and the angle of impact.

Paul Slovic, chairman of Oregon-based Decision Research, specializes in research, risk decision analysis and analysis - warning that if Apophis touches the Earth, it could erase an entire city. or a large area.

To deflect asteroids, experts can launch a spacecraft or missile into the asteroid, or use a softer method, which is to use gravity from the spacecraft to pull urine. that planet deviates from its orbit.

Urgently draft the agreement to save the Earth

In response to the threat of cosmic objects to the Earth, the Space Explorers Association has proposed the creation of a draft UN agreement on this area. That agreement will specify the responsibilities, costs and solutions to deflect cosmic objects.

Issues related to this agreement were raised at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, recently held in San Francisco.

At this conference, Dr. Russell Schweickart said: 'We are not only considering the case of Apophis. The risk of collisions between Earth and the cosmic object threatens all countries. We need to build common principles to deal with this problem. '

Dr. Schweickart argues that 'a decision and action mechanism must be considered and adopted by the United Nations'. He stressed: 'We have to act right away when there is a sign that that risk may occur, but if we wait until we know for sure about the risk, then it is too late.'

According to him, the early start of a plan to deflect an asteroid will save energy to use and will bring greater chances of success.

Among the experts invited to draft the agreement, were Lord Rees, of the Royal Astronomical Society; Roger Bonnet, former director of the European Space Agency and Crispin Tickell, former adviser to the British government.

This year, Dr. Schweickart's Association will hold many seminars to consult with experts in the fields of science, law, politics and insurance on this agreement. According to the plan, after being supplemented and finalized the draft agreement will be submitted to the United Nations in 2009.

Quang Thinh