• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
NASA confirms humanity can deflect killer asteroids

Home> News

Published 15:30 4 Mar 2023 GMT

NASA confirms humanity can deflect killer asteroids

The space agency knocked an asteroid off course for the first time last year.

Emma Guinness

Emma Guinness

We are all aware of the threat space poses to our pale blue dot, but thanks to technological advancements this threat is no longer as great as it once was.

This is because NASA has just confirmed that humanity has the ability to deflect potentially deadly asteroids before they hit.

The space agency made the revelation on Monday (27 February), when it explained it was now confident it could stop a potentially deadly impact ahead of time.

In case your memory needs refreshing, the last time the Earth was hit by an asteroid, it wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

While NASA is doing its best to ensure this doesn't happen, it is worth noting that there are around 2,000 potentially hazardous asteroids in our vicinity.

Advert

The last asteroid to hit the Earth wiped out the dinosaurs.
Alamy / Science Photo Library

But that doesn't mean that huge progress is not being made in this area, and last year, NASA launched its Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART).

This was practised on a moonlet called Dimorphos that was found circling its planet asteroid, and the space agency was able to successfully push it off its orbit.

On Wednesday (1 March), NASA said it had analysed the data and concluded that missions like DART can be effective in knocking deadly asteroids off course.

Advert

NASA have officially knocked an asteroid off course.
Alamy / Science Photo Library

Scientists from Northern Arizona University said: "This serves as a proof-of-concept for the kinetic impactor technique of planetary defence, DART needed to demonstrate that an asteroid could be targeted during a high-speed encounter and that the target's orbit could be changed."

In fact, NASA ended up shaving 33 minutes off Dimorphos' orbit, which is five times greater than predicted.

With major asteroids predicted to hit the Earth between every 100 and 200 million years, it is hoped this technology will be even better by the time it needs to be used.

Advert

But even in the unlikely event that NASA isn't able to successfully deflect an asteroid, there is still a plan if another big one hits.

Tsunamis would be triggered if a big asteroid lands in the ocean.
Alamy / Dariusz Kuzminski

As the Earth is 71 percent water, it is more than likely that's where an asteroid would land, and space monitoring would be used to move people away from coastal areas, where it would trigger massive tsunamis.

People would also be advised to go underground to shield from the impact and to store essentials. Soot from the asteroid would cause temperatures to plummet for decades afterwards, leading to widespread famine.

Advert

If all else fails, you could just do what Leonardo DiCaprio did in the Netflix hit Don't Look Up and enjoy what time you have left on our pale blue dot.

Featured Image Credit: Science Photo Library/imageBROKER / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Space, NASA, Science

Emma Guinness
Emma Guinness

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Asteroid worth $10,000,000,000,000,000,000 that NASA is capturing could have a devastating impact
  • Shocking images reveal last thing NASA spacecraft saw before plunging into Saturn's atmosphere
  • NASA is offering $3,000,000 to anyone who can solve how to do this one thing in space
  • NASA discovers unbelievable planet that's like a 'super-Earth' and can 'harbour life'

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
  • 7 hours ago

    Chipotle customer finds receipt from 10 years ago and the comparison is making people want to cry

    Chipotle customers are understandably upset

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    100-year-old identical twins reveal secret to long life after celebrating milestone

    Bernice Frank and Gloria Lipman shared their wisdom for reaching 100-years-old

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Forensic psychiatrist gives chilling theory behind Bryan Kohberger’s motive after he confessed to Idaho murders

    Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to murder earlier this week

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Body found in search for man who vanished on vacation as police release chilling details

    Brian Tarrence was with his wife in Turks and Caicos before being reported missing days later

    News