Russia can build asteroid-destroying missiles
A Russian rocket and space technology corporation announced that it will launch a project to build a rocket capable of destroying asteroids that threaten the Earth.
Apophis, one of three large asteroids that could threaten Earth. Photo: zmescience.com.
Vitaly Lopota, CEO of Enegia rocket and space technology corporation, said that three large asteroids are likely to hit Earth in the next few decades, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported. Apophis is one of them. A collision between Earth and Apophis would have the explosive power of 1,700 megatons of explosives.
"To change the trajectory of an asteroid like Apophis, humans would need a 70-ton missile carrying a nuclear warhead. The missile would pull the asteroid away from Earth and then destroy it with thermonuclear energy.
Astronomers discovered Apophis in 2004. They predict it will pass within 30,000 km of Earth – nearly a tenth of the distance between Earth and the moon – in 2029.
"Energia is preparing to be able to manufacture a missile capable of destroying asteroids in 3 to 5 years," he affirmed.
According to VnExpress - VT
