Thread by @esaoperations

Whats your favourite method to prevent an #AsteroidImpact?
(More info on techniques below. HINT: one is pretty dangerous and another is #sciencefiction)
#PlanetaryDefense🌍☄️

1. The planned #AIDA mission will be the first to test asteroid deflection. @NASA's #DART spacecraft will be crashed into asteroid #Didymoon, and ESA's #HeraMission will observe the effects. Find out more: esa.int/Our_Activities…

2. Explode asteroid: speaks for itself!💥

3. If an asteroid is detected early enough, it could be possible to divert its path using the gravity of a spacecraft. A 'gravity tractor' device would fly alongside the asteroid for a long period of time (years to decades) and slowly pull it out of Earth’s path

4. White surfaces reflect light more than darker ones. Its possible that by painting one side of an asteroid white, its orbit can be altered as it absorbs and reflects light in different ways.
More info: nasa.gov/topics/univers…
Image:NASA/Hyland, D. et al. Illustration:@WIRED

@WIRED We discussed the results of the quiz earlier today, LIVE from the #PlanetaryDefense conference with ESA's Head of Planetary Defence, Rüdiger Jehn - what's his preferred method of deflection?
📹Find out here: facebook.com/EuropeanSpaceA…