Hyper-velocity Asteroid Mitigation Mission for Emergency Response (HAMMER) is a concept study by NASA on a spacecraft (8 tonnes) capable of detonating a nuclear bomb to deflect an asteroid, if it was on a collision course to Earth. The study is a collaboration between the National Nuclear Security Administration, NASA, and two Energy Department weapons labs.[1][2][3]

Bennu

NASA is working on a modelling study that considers the asteroid 101955 Bennu, which has a diameter of 246 meters and capable of a 1.15 gigaton impact, as a modelling target for the HAMMER concept.[4][5] It is circling the Sun at 63,000 mph and 54 million miles from the Earth.[6]

The two realistic responses considered in the study are the use of a spacecraft functioning as either a kinetic impactor or a nuclear explosive carrier to deflect the approaching asteroid.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Khartoum, Sarah (15 March 2018). "Nasa draws up plans for huge spacecraft to blow up doomsday asteroid". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  2. ^ Vergano, Dan (7 March 2018). "Government Scientists Have A Plan For Blowing Up Asteroids With A Nuke". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  3. ^ Parsons, Jeff (16 March 2018). "NASA building 'HAMMER' spacecraft to save Earth from cataclysmic asteroid impact". Mirror. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  4. ^ Whitwam, Ryan (9 March 2018). "NASA Designs HAMMER Spacecraft to Deflect or Nuke Dangerous Asteroids". ExtremeTech. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  5. ^ Vergano, Dan (7 March 2018). "Government Scientists Have A Plan For Blowing Up Asteroids With A Nuke". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  6. ^ "NASA May Build 'HAMMER' Spacecraft To Blow Up Earth-Bound Asteroid". NDTV. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  7. ^ Barbee, Brent W.; Syal, Megan Bruck; Dearborn, David; Gisler, Galen; Greenaugh, Kevin; Howley, Kirsten M.; Leung, Ron; Lyzhoft, Josh; Miller, Paul L.; Nuth, Joseph A.; Plesko, Catherine; Seery, Bernard D.; Wasem, Joseph; Weaver, Robert P.; Zebenay, Melak (2018). "Options and uncertainties in planetary defense: Mission planning and vehicle design for flexible response". Acta Astronautica. 143: 37–61. Bibcode:2018AcAau.143...37B. doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2017.10.021.
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