Exploring Nuclear Deflection as a Strategy for Asteroid Threats

An international team of researchers, including scientists from CERN and the University of Oxford, has revisited the concept of using nuclear warheads to deflect asteroids that pose a threat to Earth. This research, published in the journal *Nature Communications*, follows NASA's successful Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in 2022, which demonstrated the potential of redirecting an asteroid's path through kinetic impact. The study aims to assess the feasibility of nuclear deflection, particularly for larger asteroids that may not be effectively managed through conventional methods.

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Asteroids can survive their entry into Earth's atmosphere, with the Chelyabinsk meteor of 2013 serving as a notable example. This 60-foot asteroid exploded over Russia, releasing energy equivalent to 30 times that of the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Given the potential for catastrophic impacts from larger asteroids, researchers are exploring various methods for planetary defense, including nuclear options.

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The research team conducted experiments using CERN’s Super Proton Synchrotron to expose samples of metal-rich meteorites to intense proton beam pulses. Surprisingly, the results indicated that these materials became stronger and exhibited self-stabilizing properties after exposure. Melanie Bochmann, cofounder of the nuclear deflection startup Outer Solar System Company (OuSoCo), noted that this resilience suggests that larger nuclear devices could be employed without the risk of catastrophic fragmentation of the asteroid.

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The findings from this study open up emergency options for scenarios involving large asteroids or short warning times, where non-nuclear methods may be inadequate. The researchers plan to expand their studies to include more complex asteroid materials, such as pallasites, which could provide insights into planetary formation processes as well as asteroid redirection strategies.

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NASA and the European Space Agency are set to study Apophis, a massive asteroid measuring between 1,000 and 1,500 feet in width, which is expected to pass within 20,000 miles of Earth in April 2029. This upcoming observation will be critical for understanding potential threats and refining deflection strategies.

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While the research presents promising findings, there are inherent concerns regarding the use of nuclear devices for asteroid deflection. Critics argue that the potential for fragmentation could lead to multiple smaller debris impacts rather than a single deflected object, complicating the threat to Earth.

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Karl-Georg Schlesinger, cofounder of OuSoCo, emphasized the importance of executing a nuclear deflection mission with high confidence, acknowledging the challenges of conducting real-world tests prior to an actual event. The researchers expressed optimism about their findings, stating, “Our experiments indicate that — at least for metal-rich asteroid material — a larger device than previously thought can be used without catastrophically breaking the asteroid.”

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• “Planetary defense represents a scientific challenge,” — Karl-Georg Schlesinger, Co-founder, Outer Solar System Company

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• “material became stronger, exhibiting an increase in yield strength, and displayed a self-stabilizing damping behavior,” — Melanie Bochmann, Co-founder, Outer Solar System Company

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• “This keeps open an emergency option for situations involving very large objects or very short warning times, where non-nuclear methods are insufficient and where current models might assume fragmentation would limit the usable device size.” — Research Team Statement

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This research marks a significant step in understanding how nuclear deflection could be a viable strategy for planetary defense against potential asteroid threats.

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