NASA considers using nuclear bombs to destroy Moon-bound ‘city killer’ asteroid 2024 YR4
Scientists are considering a bold strategy to stop asteroid 2024 YR4 from striking the Moon: using nuclear explosives to break it apart. First observed in December 2024, this asteroid once raised fears about a possible impact with Earth in December 2032, though latest estimates now place that probability at just 0.00081 %. Meanwhile, the chances it could collide with the Moon on the same date are estimated at over 4 %. If it were to hit the lunar surface, ejecta (dust and small fragments) could be launched into space, forming a cloud of micrometeoroids that pose serious risk to Earth satellites, crewed spacecraft, and future lunar missions. The proposal, detailed in a preprint study that has yet to pass peer review, argues that a “nuclear robust disruption mission” could be deployed between 2029 and 2031. Scientists suggest that if the Moon remains unstruck, a reconnaissance mission would still yield high scientific value.
The Key points
- Asteroid 2024 YR4 first spotted in Dec 2024.
- Earlier fears of Earth impact on Dec 2032 have been downgraded to negligible risk.
- Moon-impact probability remains above 4 %.
- A lunar collision could eject debris into low Earth orbit.
- Micrometeoroids could damage satellites, spacecraft, or spacesuits.
- NASA and collaborators propose using nuclear bombs to disrupt the asteroid.
- The plan is dubbed a “nuclear robust disruption mission.”
- Deployment window estimated between 2029 and 2031.
- The research is in preprint form, not yet peer-reviewed.
- Even if Moon impact is avoided, studying the asteroid would be scientifically useful.
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