Nuclear Bomb to Destroy Asteroids

IF a large asteroid was gliding back to Earth and threatens civilization, a way that was done in the movie Armageddon does not seem groundless. Recent research proves that using nuclear bombs to destroy an asteroid could be used.

According to researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, David Dearborn, when the asteroid crashed into Earth is estimated to occur within a period of 50 years, then use a nuclear bomb is the best solution. "Nuclear bomb is the most powerful bomb as far as we know it. The power that reaches three million times the chemical bombs may be hope. Only, the question now, how to use that energy?" said David.

He admitted it would produce fractional asteriod debris that remain potentially hit Earth. "However, the risk that we worry about the next course. The important thing is the main asteriod been successfully solved," he explained.

According to him, the risk remains tertabraknya earth by floating debris asteriod not absolute. Pascapeledakan asteroids, there is the possibility of changing the direction of the asteroid debris.

"The ability of nuclear bombs might also be used to change the orbit of asteroid debris that avoid collision with the Earth. But it all with the record we really memilki enough time," she said.

Added Director NASA Lunar Science Institute, David Morrison, NASA will send astronautnya to visit an asteroid in 2025. The astronauts will examine the possibility of an asteroid blasting experiment in order to see changes in direction that can occur.

"Our initial simulations do is blow up an asteroid measuring 270 meters by 300 kilotons of energy as 15 days before the predicted collision point will be able to successfully divert the asteroid, initially toward the Earth. Approximately 97 percent of the asteroid material will be diverted from the earth," explained Morrison. (Mar/space.com/OL-5)