To protect Earth, NASA has recently launched the “Space Defense Project” in response to the potential threat posed by the asteroid Apophis, which could collide with Earth in 2036.
According to calculations from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in 2029, Apophis will pass close to Earth, and in 2036, it is predicted to hit our planet. The impact of this asteroid would be far more devastating than the Southeast Asian tsunami in December 2004.
The impact would be equivalent to 110,000 atomic bombs!
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Image of an asteroid (Photo from a foreign website) |
To ensure Earth’s safety, NASA has recently initiated the first phase of the “Space Defense Project,” which involves setting up tracking devices to monitor the precise orbit of Apophis, marking the beginning of the “Earth Defense War.”
Apophis is one of 800 asteroids that have long been recognized as potential threats to Earth, and it is one of the few celestial bodies that astronomers hope to study more thoroughly.
| Asteroids are celestial bodies that orbit the sun but are not large enough to qualify as planets. They can have diameters up to 1,000 km, but can also be as small as pebbles. Currently, there are up to 16 asteroids with diameters over 240 km, orbiting in the space between Earth and Saturn. However, the majority of asteroids are concentrated in the region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, with some orbits intersecting Earth’s orbit, and some asteroids have previously collided with Earth. Asteroids are named after their discoverers. Initially, they were often named after goddesses, but later, names of people, places, flowers, and even acronyms of organizations became common. |
Apophis is a near-Earth small asteroid with a non-fixed shape, measuring approximately 320 meters in diameter and weighing around 42,000 tons. It was discovered in June 2004, but was lost from sight until it was rediscovered in June 2005.
According to calculations and observations by NASA scientists, in 2029, the distance between Apophis and Earth will be just 29,996.78 km. This distance is closer to Earth than some communication satellites. As it approaches Earth, the asteroid will reach speeds of 5.9 km/second.
On April 13, 2029, the asteroid Apophis is expected to pass by Earth, creating a bright trail in the sky, appearing as a magnitude III star. This will be the first celestial object that humans can see with the naked eye from Africa, Europe, and Asia.
At that time, Earth’s gravity will cause this celestial body to undergo complex oscillatory motion, and gravitational forces may even cause Apophis to fracture.
After passing Earth, Earth’s gravity will alter the state and operational orbit of this asteroid, leading it to return for a potential impact with Earth seven years later.
The impact of Apophis would be sufficient to erase the state of Texas or two European countries. This catastrophic collision would release energy equivalent to 110,000 atomic bombs like those dropped on Hiroshima.
During the “Asteroid and Comet Safety Issues Workshop” held in St. Petersburg, Russian astronomer Schweickart presented a theoretical model: if Apophis were to collide with Earth in the Pacific Ocean, it could generate waves as high as 200 meters, and debris from the impact would cover one-fourth of Earth, causing human and animal life in that region to perish from cold or starvation…
Developing a Plan to Protect Earth
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What would an asteroid collision with Earth look like…? (Illustration from a foreign website) |
To prevent the risk of Earth being destroyed in 2036, NASA has decided to install a radio tracking device to monitor the orbit of Apophis.
Scientists around the world are collaborating to find defensive methods for the survival of Earth.
Firstly, the installation of tracking devices. According to NASA, 2013 was the most suitable time to observe the orbital traces of Apophis in space. If observational results confirm that this massive rock could collide with Earth, a spacecraft equipped with radio tracking devices will monitor the rock for ten years. If there is a possibility of a collision, NASA will devise a method to alter the rock’s orbit to avoid the impact.
Secondly, using a gravitational tractor. NASA is preparing to use a “gravitational tractor” to pull Apophis as it approaches Earth in 2029. At that time, launching a “gravitational tractor” spacecraft weighing about one ton could change the orbit of this asteroid.
To implement this plan, scientists will need to conduct step-by-step feasibility studies, training, and launch spacecraft to collect data to assist in the research. This approach would avoid nuclear contamination compared to the explosive method to deflect Apophis’s orbit.
Thirdly, launching a spacecraft. This would utilize gravitational forces generated from the spacecraft and the asteroid to prevent the asteroid from colliding with Earth. The spacecraft would fly at the same speed and direction as Apophis, and when the spacecraft and asteroid are relatively synchronized, a “robotic arm” would extend out to push the asteroid and change its orbit. Additionally, there are other ideas such as equipping large rockets on the asteroid to change its trajectory or installing large reflective mirrors in space to use sunlight to vaporize the asteroid.
Fourthly, establishing a space defense network. The “Space Defense Project” is a cooperative effort among various organizations and agencies, including some organizations funded by NASA that have pledged to measure and identify 90% of asteroids with diameters of 1 km or more near Earth.
In 2003, NASA proposed a plan to invest between 2.5 to 4.5 billion USD before 2028 to measure and identify 90% of asteroids with diameters of 140 meters or more near Earth.
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