The prospect of an asteroid hitting Earth is a real concern for many scientists and policymakers. These films allow viewers to consider the possible consequences of such events in a fictional setting.
But is it possible for an asteroid to hit Earth? If so, what should we do? If an asteroid hits us, are we doomed, or do we already have the technology to defend our planet like in the movies?
Most asteroids are relatively small and do not pose a significant threat to Earth. An estimated 15,000 asteroids break up as meteorites and enter our atmosphere each year. However, a handful of larger asteroids could cause major damage if they hit Earth. Fortunately, efforts are underway to track and monitor asteroids and understand their properties, which can help mitigate potential risks.
NASA’s Dawn mission, launched in 2007, is one such attempt. The Dawn spacecraft is heading to Vesta and Ceres, two of the largest objects in the asteroid belt. It spent the next 11 years traveling through space, studying the surface and composition of the two asteroids. When the mission concluded in 2018, it was declared a success and helped advance our understanding of the early solar system.
There’s also NASA and the European Space Agency’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft mission, which is investigating the feasibility of using a spacecraft to deflect any asteroid that collides with Earth. The mission is critical to developing capabilities to protect Earth from potentially hazardous asteroids, and will provide valuable data and insights for future asteroid deflection efforts.
The DART spacecraft is designed to intercept an asteroid and use the momentum of the collision to alter the asteroid’s orbit. The mission will test whether this technology, called a kinetic impactor, can deflect an asteroid and prevent it from hitting Earth.
There are other efforts in the pipeline, but whether any of them will work remains to be seen. Hopefully we don’t have to find out.
Directed by: Thomas Lucas
