Russia proposed to shoot down asteroids named 1999 RQ36

Russian scientists have proposed shooting down the 1999 RQ36 asteroid, after assuming that this solar-heated asteroid could change its orbit and fall to Earth in 2182.

Experts from the Russian Space Research Institute (IKI) said it was necessary to "shoot down" the 1999 RQ36 asteroid, along with a number of other asteroids at risk of threatening the Earth, from orbit another asteroid. .

Asteroid 1999 RQ36. (Photo: Nasa)

The idea came when Russian scientists studied Apophis asteroids in 2004, and found it at risk of crashing the Earth in 2036. Although this ability has now been eliminated, this risk again found in 1999 asteroid RQ36.

IKI found that through Apophis it is possible to avoid the risk of 1999 RQ36 falling to Earth. According to the researchers, it is possible to launch a spacecraft from Earth on Apophis, then use the gravitational force to further energize the asteroid, when it flies across Earth, it will change its orbit and eventually hit the 1999 asteroid RQ36.

Currently, Russia is studying the idea of ​​creating a series of cosmic asteroids and arranging these small asteroids so that when a dangerous 'enemy' appears , it is possible to select the most suitable asteroid and hit it. target.

This method may sound unusual, but according to experts, the idea is technically feasible and does not require any technological breakthrough and scientific revolution.

Nearly asteroid Earth 1999 RQ36 belonging to the Apollo group with an average diameter of 510 meters, if hit on Earth, will cause an explosion equivalent to 2,700 megatons of TNT, equivalent to more than 200 atomic bombings in Hiroshima, Japan in 1945.