Chinese Scientists Propose Buried-Nuke Plan to Destroy 330-Foot Asteroids
Updated
Updated · WION · Jul 7
Chinese Scientists Propose Buried-Nuke Plan to Destroy 330-Foot Asteroids
3 articles · Updated · WION · Jul 7
Summary
A peer-reviewed Chinese study says the most effective way to stop a threatening asteroid is to excavate a crater, place a nuclear warhead inside and trigger a “deep detonation.”
Tests against a virtual threat database with warning times from 1 to 20 years found the buried-warhead approach outperformed a surface blast, which may be insufficient for asteroids about 330 feet wide.
The team, led by Xiaowei Wang of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, said traditional kinetic impacts and slower deflection methods lack enough energy when response time is short.
The proposed mission would autonomously choose a crater site, destroy roughly 330-foot asteroids and push smaller ones off course, though it depends on having enough lead time.
Researchers said asteroid composition could change the tactic—rubble piles may need a different approach—and the paper did not address whether debris from a destroyed asteroid could still threaten Earth.
NASA proved we can nudge asteroids. Is China's plan to nuke them a necessary step or a reckless gamble?
If we nuke a killer asteroid, could the radioactive fragments pose an even greater threat to Earth?
China's asteroid-killer requires nukes in space. Does this violate international law and risk a new arms race?
Defending Earth from Asteroids: China's Deep Nuclear Detonation Strategy and the International Hurdles Ahead
Overview
Chinese scientists have introduced a new method to defend Earth from large asteroids by placing a nuclear warhead deep inside the asteroid, rather than detonating it on the surface. This approach, detailed by Wang Xiaowei and colleagues, compares two main strategies: one detonates the device on or near the surface, while the other first digs a hole for a deeper explosion. The deep detonation method is shown to be more effective, especially for larger asteroids, as it can deliver a stronger push to change their path. This proposal aims to improve the reliability and effectiveness of planetary defense.