A newly discovered asteroid 2024 YR4, has a 3.1% chance of hitting Earth on December 22, 2032, the highest probability for an impact of this scale in modern history, NASA reported. Despite this, scientists assure that humanity now has the means to deflect such threats.
Richard Moissl, head of the European Space Agency’s planetary defense office, urged people not to panic, as more data is likely to reduce the impact probability to zero. However, if the odds do increase, multiple strategies exist to prevent a collision.
NASA’s 2022 DART mission successfully altered the orbit of an asteroid by smashing a spacecraft into it, proving that kinetic impact is a viable option. Other techniques include a gravity tractor, ion beams, or even spray-painting the asteroid to change its reflectivity and alter its trajectory over time.
A last-resort option would be using nuclear explosions to deflect the asteroid, though this method carries risks of unpredictable debris. Scientists have also proposed laser beams to vaporize portions of the asteroid, pushing it off course.
With over seven years to prepare, experts emphasize that Earth is not defenseless. Even if deflection efforts fail, emergency response measures, including evacuation, could mitigate potential damage, as the asteroid is not large enough to cause global catastrophe.