Chinese researchers have urged governments to build a warhead-based planetary defense system to protect against asteroids
Nuclear weapons may be the best means of protecting the Earth from asteroids, according to scientists from China’s deep space exploration program.
In a paper published this month in the Chinese journal SCIENTIA SINICA Technologica, the team of researchers warned that despite recent developments in near-Earth object detection technologies, inaccuracies can occur, which means humanity needs to be prepared to fend off space debris.
In their study, the researchers analyzed a variety of defense methods and their feasibility in protecting the planet from asteroids of different sizes, densities, and warning periods. Their findings suggest that on short notice – for example, one week until impact – nuclear warheads would be the only thing capable of altering an asteroid’s course to avoid a collision.
Based on their analysis, the…