Scientists Question If We Should Nuke An Asteroid That Might Hit The Moon

Scientists are debating whether to use a nuclear explosion to prevent an asteroid, known as 2024 YR4, from hitting the moon in 2032. The asteroid has a 4% chance of impact, which could create a debris field threatening satellites and astronauts in low Earth orbit.

A recent paper, including contributions from NASA scientists, explores two main options: deflecting or destroying the asteroid. Deflection would involve nudging the asteroid off its path, but this requires precise knowledge of its mass, which is currently unknown. The asteroid's weight could range from more than 56,000 tons to over 780,000 tons, making it nearly impossible to create accurate calculations. Incorrect calculations could make the situation worse.

Alternatively, scientists are considering a nuclear explosion to disrupt the asteroid. This method, while untested, could theoretically break the asteroid into smaller, less dangerous pieces. The paper suggests that a 1-megaton nuclear device could effectively disrupt 2024 YR4. However, this approach carries political and technical risks, including potential international tensions over the use of nuclear weapons in space.

NASA has no current plans to interfere with the asteroid, but they intend to study it using the James Webb Space Telescope early next year. This research could refine the asteroid's predicted path and possibly reduce the impact probability to zero.