NASA scientists propose plan to NUKE incoming asteroids to avoid deadly impacts with Earth

[Judi Lynn]

Scientists detailed a plan dubbed HAMMER to deal with asteroid threats
In the proposal, a spacecraft could be used as an 'impactor' to deflect an object
But, if there isn't enough time, the experts say it would be better to nuke it

By CHEYENNE MACDONALD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 19:40 EST, 9 March 2018 | UPDATED: 20:23 EST, 9 March 2018

If an asteroid the size of a small village were headed straight toward Earth, there isn’t much we could do on short notice to prevent a major disaster – except blow it up, that is.

Scientists are investigating the possibility of using a specially designed spacecraft to nuke approaching cosmic objects, in hopes that doing so could deflect the threat.

While it could be possible to divert a near-Earth object by slamming into it with a so-called impactor, experts say a nuclear explosion may be the best bet when time is running out.

In a new paper, scientists from NASA and the National Nuclear Security Administration have laid out a plan for the Hypervelocity Asteroid Mitigation Mission for Emergency Response (HAMMER).

More:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5484277/NASA-scientists-propose-plan-NUKE-incoming-asteroids.html

[Staph]

1. I think I've seen this movie.

It didn't end well.

[NNadir]

5. However, despite popular opinion to the contrary, movies are not scientific journals. n/t

[Doodley]

2. What could go wrong with that plan?

[Tiggeroshii]

3. In the movies Donald Trump is not president

[krispos42]

4. Could be done

Ideally, we'd drop the nuke in the biggest crater we could find on the asteroid, and time it so the crater in question would be in the most advantageous position to channel the blast.

It would produce a short but very strong thrust as the energy of the blast was focused and directed by the crater. We would want to direct that thrust so as to nudge the asteroid enough to make it miss us.