Using Nuclear Explosions to Prevent the Impact of Small Cosmic Bodies on the Earth

摘要

The use of nuclear charges to prevent dangerous space objects from impacting the Earth is considered. Emphasis is placed on of two problems: imparting momentum to small cosmic bodies (SCBs) detected at a sufficient distance from the Earth to divert their trajectory to a safe distance from the planet; disintegration of SCBs by a nuclear explosion into fragments small enough compared to the initial body so that their impact on the Earth does not lead to an accident. The energy release of nuclear charges necessary to achieve this goal is estimated. The fragmentation process is considered using as an example a hypothetical SCB of the type of the asteroid Icarus.