Russia Upgrades Nuclear Missiles to Destroy Asteroids
It seems that lately space agencies are becoming more concerned with
the threat of cosmic objects as Russia upgrades nuclear missiles to
destroy asteroids.
There has been news about asteroids coming very close to our planet and let’s not forget that NASA is not the only space agency on Earth. The Russians are concerned with the approach of these cosmic objects and are planning to do something about the threat.
Russian scientists are already planning on upgrading ICBMs to make sure they can properly destroy asteroids. They are thinking of testing the upgraded missiles in 2036 when Apophis, an asteroid will pass very close to Earth.
ICBMs are ballistic missiles which can reach up to 5,500 km and their primary purpose is to deliver nuclear weapons. The upgrade should make the ICBMs able to destroy meteorites which have the size in between 20 and 50 meters and are getting close to the Earth.
So why are scientists turning to nuclear missiles instead of regular space rockets? Rockets work mostly on boiling fuel and the fueling has to begin about 10 days before the launch. However, meteorites are usually detected only a few hours before approaching our planet. Therefore, there’s no time to fuel a rocket, so intercontinental ballistic missiles could do the trick, provided they get this upgrade the Russians are talking about.
Although asteroids coming close to Earth or even smashing into our planet are quite rare, it is understandable that Russians are not willing to take the risk. After all, in 2013 an asteroid fell in the city of Chelyabinsk and injured more than 1,500 people.
Scientists have already started working on the design of the upgraded missiles, but they still need government’s permission as well as funding. The plan is to try and intercept the Apophis asteroid when it passes our planet in 2036.
Although we’re going to have to wait a long time for nukes to save us from asteroids, it will most likely be worth it, as they seem to be the only proper way of avoiding collisions and destruction from the outside. It’s enough that we’re destroying Earth from the inside. We probably don’t need help from asteroids as well.
There has been news about asteroids coming very close to our planet and let’s not forget that NASA is not the only space agency on Earth. The Russians are concerned with the approach of these cosmic objects and are planning to do something about the threat.
Russian scientists are already planning on upgrading ICBMs to make sure they can properly destroy asteroids. They are thinking of testing the upgraded missiles in 2036 when Apophis, an asteroid will pass very close to Earth.
ICBMs are ballistic missiles which can reach up to 5,500 km and their primary purpose is to deliver nuclear weapons. The upgrade should make the ICBMs able to destroy meteorites which have the size in between 20 and 50 meters and are getting close to the Earth.
So why are scientists turning to nuclear missiles instead of regular space rockets? Rockets work mostly on boiling fuel and the fueling has to begin about 10 days before the launch. However, meteorites are usually detected only a few hours before approaching our planet. Therefore, there’s no time to fuel a rocket, so intercontinental ballistic missiles could do the trick, provided they get this upgrade the Russians are talking about.
Although asteroids coming close to Earth or even smashing into our planet are quite rare, it is understandable that Russians are not willing to take the risk. After all, in 2013 an asteroid fell in the city of Chelyabinsk and injured more than 1,500 people.
Scientists have already started working on the design of the upgraded missiles, but they still need government’s permission as well as funding. The plan is to try and intercept the Apophis asteroid when it passes our planet in 2036.
Although we’re going to have to wait a long time for nukes to save us from asteroids, it will most likely be worth it, as they seem to be the only proper way of avoiding collisions and destruction from the outside. It’s enough that we’re destroying Earth from the inside. We probably don’t need help from asteroids as well.
