Protecting Earth from potential asteroid impacts is a complex challenge. Breaking up a large asteroid into pieces could result in a dangerous rain of debris. However, altering an asteroid’s trajectory by impacting it with another object, or by using the “gravity tractor” technique of placing a massive object near the asteroid, are potential solutions. These methods, however, only work if we detect the asteroid well in advance of its projected impact on Earth.
In the podcast episode “Dead Planets Society,” hosts Leah Crane and Chelsea Whyte explore innovative ideas for protecting Earth from asteroids. They are joined by Andy Rivkin, a planetary astronomer and asteroid expert from Johns Hopkins University. Instead of sending a mission to the asteroid, they discuss the possibility of developing a net or a tight mesh material that could act as a trampoline to redirect the asteroid towards Mars.
One intriguing concept is the idea of a shield in orbit around Earth. Not only could such a shield potentially intercept and divert asteroids, but any impacts it experiences could serve as an alert system, indicating that the planet has been saved. This concept has been playfully named the “asteroid gong.”
The pursuit of innovative ideas to safeguard Earth from asteroids is ongoing, with researchers exploring various approaches. By considering unconventional methods and subjecting them to the laws of physics, scientists aim to enhance our ability to protect our planet in the future.
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