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With a fleet of 1.000 spacecraft, NASA is developing a planetary defense against asteroids, using innovative technology to ensure Earth's safety.
Have you ever imagined that humanity would need a “army” of spacecraft to protect the Earth from threats coming from space? Well, that is exactly the plan of NASA, the US aerospace agency. The idea is to set up a true planetary defense force with the objective of protecting the Earth from asteroids that can cause mass destruction, like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.
An army of 1.000 spaceships
NASA’s plan is as ambitious as it sounds: to build an army of 1,000 spacecraft specifically designed to intercept and alter the trajectory of potentially dangerous asteroids. And don’t think this is just science fiction!
In 2022, the agency already successfully demonstrated the technique when carrying out the DART mission (Double Asteroid Redirection Test), which was able to collide a spacecraft with an asteroid, altering its orbit. This proved that we have the technology necessary to defend the planet against space threats.
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Building on this success, NASA wants to expand this defense, creating a permanent system of protection. Bill Nelson, the agency’s administrator, said: “We are committed to protecting Earth from potentially dangerous asteroids and comets. Planetary defense benefits all of humanity.” In other words, the objective is to ensure that, in the event of a real threat, the planet is prepared.
Why worry about asteroids?
While there are no immediate threats, NASA is preparing for future scenarios. The main concern is large asteroids, like the one that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. An impact like that could cause devastation on a global scale, and the difference now is that we have the technology to prevent such a natural disaster.
NASA scientists are taking a look back at the asteroid that hit Earth millions of years ago. That event was so catastrophic that it changed the history of the planet, and now the agency's focus is to ensure that something similar doesn't happen again.
According to Lindley Johnson, NASA's planetary defense officer, “An asteroid impact has the potential for catastrophic devastation, and is also the only natural disaster that humanity can now completely avoid.”
How does NASA plan to protect Earth?
NASA’s strategy is clear: to mount a solid planetary defense, both nationally and internationally. One of the main methods of defense is the use of spacecraft to deflect asteroids that pose a real threat to Earth. These spacecraft, part of the agency’s “army,” will be designed to collide with space objects, altering their orbits and thus avoiding a catastrophic collision with our planet.
However, if a more extreme situation arises, NASA has an even bolder plan B: using controlled nuclear explosions to deflect asteroids that are on an imminent collision course with Earth. While this scenario is a last resort, it is part of the agency defense planning.
Planetary defense and the next 10 years
NASA is ramping up its efforts over the next ten years. Lindley Johnson stressed that this strategy will ensure that the agency works with other countries to build a robust planetary defense. This is crucial, as threats like asteroids affect not just one nation, but all of humanity.
With that, NASA's work goes beyond creating new technologies. The agency is also working with international partners to ensure that, in the event of a threat, everyone is prepared to act together. After all, protecting the planet is a global mission.
The DART Mission Example: How Spacecraft Can Deflect Asteroids
A major milestone in this ambitious project was the DART mission, which proved that spacecraft can indeed deflect asteroids. In 2022, NASA sent a spacecraft to collide with the asteroid Dimorphos, and the impact was enough to alter its trajectory. This success was a major step forward for planetary defense and gave the agency the confidence to move forward with plans to create an army of spacecraft.
Building on this success, NASA is focused on improving the technology used in the DART mission. The idea is that each spacecraft in the “army” will have the ability to alter the path of asteroids that pose a risk to Earth, ensuring an efficient and rapid defense.
The importance of international collaboration
An important detail in NASA’s plan is international collaboration. Asteroid defense is not something that can be done by one country alone, which is why the agency is joining forces with other nations and scientific institutions around the world. Planetary defense is a global cause, and developing new technologies to protect Earth must be a joint effort.
The idea is that when a real threat emerges, everyone is prepared to act in a coordinated manner, using the best available technologies. NASA's plan is an example of how science and international cooperation can work together to ensure the safety of the planet.
Now it all makes sense.
A mysterious object coming towards Earth.
Tests on asteroids.
Giant rockets with great capabilities.
Search for habitable planets.
There's definitely something wrong with that…
The threat of an asteroid strike is the PERFECT EXCUSE for the militarization of space.
Just as this system can be used to stop an asteroid, it can also be used against somewhere on Earth.
This has happened before: the Space Race was the excuse for the development of international ballistic missiles.
The same rocket that takes a spaceship into space can take a nuclear bomb to the other side of the world.
Likewise, a missile designed against an asteroid can be used against a city.
I let the residue dry and make fertilizers.