NASA Prepares Nuclear Mission to Protect Against Asteroid

The American space agency NASA has unveiled plans to launch the first nuclear mission aimed at preventing the threat of an asteroid collision. According to the agency, the celestial body is about 55 meters in diameter and could approach Earth and the Moon in 2032.

Calculations show that the probability of a direct collision with Earth is around 0.3%, while the risk of hitting the Moon’s surface is estimated at 4%. Despite these relatively low figures, experts consider the situation potentially dangerous. In the event of a lunar impact, a massive ejection of debris into space could threaten satellites in orbit and the International Space Station.

NASA stated that to prevent such a catastrophe scenario, a mission using a nuclear charge is being prepared. The launch is planned between 2029 and 2031 to intercept the asteroid before it nears Earth. This will be the first operation in history to use nuclear weapons in space for planetary protection.

The agency explained that such measures are necessary due to the lack of alternative technical solutions capable of reliably altering the trajectory of an asteroid of this size. The use of a nuclear charge would either completely destroy the object or significantly adjust its course, eliminating the risk of impact.

Experts note that NASA’s mission will set a precedent in planetary defense. A successful project will pave the way for creating international systems to defend against cosmic threats and prevent potential catastrophes in the future.