Deflecting or disintegrating an impact-prone asteroid!

Well suppose if an asteroid is racing towards us, then to avoid a future 'Armageddon" :

1. NASA would send text messages to a team of scientists.
2. The scientists immediately starts tracing the asteroid’s path.
3. After measuring the size of asteroid and time of impact, they ‘ll confirm whether the impact is unavoidable.
4. A public statement will then be issued, NASA and emergency agencies decide how best to protect the Earth.

On November 4, 2016 NASA and FEMA conducted asteroid impact emergency planning exercise to prepare for asteroid strike on Earth. They simulated a scenario in which an object 300–800 ft appraches Los Angeles. The exercise gave no time to launch asteroid deflection mission and left emergency managers face evacuation of over 18 million people from greater LA. The exercise provided a forum for the planetary science community to show how it would collect, analyze and share data about an asteroid colliding with Earth. Both organisations are planning more exercises like these for future preparation.

They have simulated the scenario quite a few times in the past and come up with solutions like - firing lasers into the asteroid from a group of satellites, crashing a spacecraft deliberately into an approaching satellite, detonating a bomb into an incoming object. This will break the incoming huge asteroid into smaller pieces(like meteoroids).

After researching, NASA has claimed everyday about 40–60 tonnes of meteoroids hit our atmosphere with larger chunks of comet debris becoming fireballs as they enter earth’s atmosphere. Till they reach the surface, the cosmic dust becomes so fine that it isn’t harmful rather it is beneficial( formation of clouds and helps to fertilize plankton).

There’s no risk of asteroid impact at the moment though. Space agencies, researchers and students in related field, from all over the globe are detecting any asteroid currently heading towards us. Tracing its path precisely and to secure our planet. No large object is currently likely to strike atleast for several hundred years. So, have a sound sleep everyday as we have janitors to take care and avoid any unwanted guest to our home! xD

-Sehajpal Singh