NASA expects asteroid to hit Earth! Airbus plans defense system!
Asteroids from space are considered a major threat, which in the worst case could even ensure the end of mankind. So far, there is no way to prevent the impact of these projectiles from space. In numerous simulations NASA is therefore trying to develop strategies for possible rescue plans. Now one has at the aeronautics company Airbus apparently an idea, how one could bring asteroids from the course.
Asteroid icefall likely in the next few years
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Purely statitstically, it is possible that an asteroid could actually collide with Earth in the next few years. Depending on the size of the chunk of rock, the consequences could be devastating. But now Airbus, of all places, has come up with a plan to possibly deflect an asteroid on a collision course. The idea from the aircraft manufacturer’s scientists is based on the use of telecommunications satellites, which would need to be upgraded to a working asteroid defense system. “We can assume that they are available in the companies of the satellite builders,” Airbus study leader Albert Falke had told space.com optimistically. Satellites of this type already exist sufficiently in space. According to researcher Falke and his team, these would only need to be retrofitted. These satellites would then be launched into space to divert the asteroid. Within less than a month, the satellites could be refitted. An idea that, however, has yet to be tested in practice.
Scientists at Airbus optimistic
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If the Airbus researchers’ calculations are correct, then deploying 10 of these satellites would have the necessary power to change the orbit of near-Earth asteroids. Indeed, even a course correction of a few centimeters could sometimes prevent an imminent impact. One of the asteroids that long posed a potential threat to Earth was the asteroid Apophis. The latest calculations show, however, that the impact will not occur in the next few years because the asteroid had left its pre-calculated trajectory due to an effect that had not been included in the calculation. However, the idea of using satellites to defend against asteroids seems promising only if the asteroids in question are no larger than 300 meters. “If the asteroid is bigger, it becomes more difficult,” Falke admits in no uncertain terms. For larger specimens, such as a recently discovered mega-comet with a diameter of 150 kilometers, one would still have to look for a suitable solution.