Chinese researchers advocate for nuclear weapon use against asteroid threats

Chinese experts propose using nuclear weapons as a last resort to protect Earth from potential asteroid crashes. The team, led by Zhang He of the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, stressed that current planetary defense technologies, including NASA’s DART mission, may be insufficient against larger asteroids. 

• The report, published in Scientia Sinica Technologica, brought to light that over 2 400 near-Earth asteroids represent severe hazards to human civilization. 
• The report called for further developments in nuclear technologies for planetary defense, arguing that asteroids could cause catastrophic consequences, and nuclear solutions may be the only viable option against larger space objects.

A group of Chinese scientists from the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering have pushed for more research and development of nuclear weapons for planetary defense.

The team was led by Zhang He of the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering and is concerned with the potential threats of asteroids colliding with Earth. Zhang’s team stressed that nuclear technology might be a last-resort defense strategy to prevent catastrophic asteroid collisions.

“Near-Earth asteroids refer to asteroids that are less than 45 million km (27 million miles) from the Earth’s orbit and may intersect with the Earth in the future.

Currently, more than 30 000 asteroids have been cataloged, of which more than 2 400 are potential threats, posing a potential security threat to human civilization on Earth. Against this background, asteroid defense has received widespread attention from the international community,” the team outlined in a peer-reviewed report published in August in the Chinese academic journal Scientia Sinica Technologica.

The study supported the use of nuclear weapons to keep massive asteroids from hitting Earth. It cautioned that planetary defense techniques, such as kinetic impactors like NASA’s DART mission, may be ineffective against larger asteroids.

According to Chinese researchers, the hazard of undetected near-Earth asteroids is far more significant than previously thought. They advocate nuclear techniques for diverting or destroying hazardous asteroids before approaching Earth’s atmosphere, cautioning that other methods may fail against larger space objects.

The researchers proposed launching nuclear bombs into orbit or on short notice to divert or destroy incoming asteroids. They advocated detonating nuclear weapons near the asteroid to alter its trajectory rather than immediately impacting it to avoid fragmentation.

However, they recognized the difficulties created by international accords, such as the Outer Space Treaty, which prevents the deployment of nuclear weapons in space. To address this, they proposed creating rapid-launch capabilities or pre-deploying weapons to essential locations in orbit, such as Lagrange points.

The team also brought into light the need for nuclear capabilities tailored to planetary defense, including the ability to launch nuclear warheads within a tight time frame, store them safely in space, and strike asteroids with high precision. They argued that rapid technological breakthroughs are required to improve the effectiveness and safety of nuclear weapons used in this manner.

The research began in China, where the CNSA made significant advances in space exploration. China has increased its space activities, including successful moon missions and current Mars exploration initiatives.

This research is part of China’s larger planetary defense strategy, which focuses on space infrastructure and the application of nuclear technology to counter possible asteroid threats.

The fundamental motive behind this investigation is the understanding that asteroids constitute a severe risk to Earth. The researchers cautioned that while the likelihood of a massive asteroid collision is low, the potential effects, including mass extinctions, are catastrophic.

The study concluded that, while existing planetary defense systems are promising, they are insufficient against larger asteroids, necessitating the enormous energy yield of nuclear weapons to avoid calamity.

This study stressed the relevance of nuclear technology in protecting the Earth from significant asteroid threats. It advocated for long-term investment in research and development to keep humanity safe from impending disasters. The concept broadens the global discourse on planetary defense by balancing technology innovation with international legal and safety constraints.

“In order to deal with the potential threat of near-Earth asteroids to the safety of the Earth, researchers have proposed a variety of defense methods. This paper numerically analyzes the feasibility of defense for eight methods of instantaneous and long-term effects under four warning periods: immediate warning (7 days), short-term warning (5 years), medium-term warning (15 years) and long-term warning (50 years). It clarifies the defense scenarios applicable to different defense technologies and analyzes the key technical requirements, providing a reference for the construction of my country’s future asteroid defense system,” the researchers concluded.

References:

¹ Feasibility study on the defense of near-Earth asteroids – He ZHANG, Zheng GU, XiangYu ZHANG, ChengZhi HAN – SCIENTIA SINICA Technologica, Volume 54, Issue 8, 2024, Pages 1435-1445, ISSN 1674-7259 – August 9, 2024 – https://doi.org/10.1360/SST-2023-0331