Scientists to figure out how to stop hypothetical asteroid impact

SCI-TECH

Scientists to figure out how to stop hypothetical asteroid impact

CTVNews.ca

Christy Somos CTV National News Associate Producer

Published Sunday, April 28, 2019 3:34PM EDT

This mosaic image composed of 12 PolyCam images collected on Dec. 2, 2018, and provided by NASA shows the asteroid Bennu. The tiny asteroid regularly crosses Earth's orbit and will come perilously close to Earth in about 150 years. (NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona via AP)

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If the odds of an asteroid hitting Earth were 1 in 100, how would humans stop it?

It鈥檚 a questions scientists are hoping to work out as they gather Monday in Washington D.C. at the 2019 .

The European Space Agency (ESA) is live-tweeting the event, and have been active on social media this weekend presenting possible theories to prevent asteroid impact, such as a 鈥渒inetic impactor鈥� and a 鈥済ravity tractor.鈥�

鈥淭his topic has been the theme of many epic films and TV series,鈥� said the ESA on . 鈥淏ut what really are the chances of an asteroid impact and what are our options?鈥�

鈥淏ruce Willis unfortunately isn鈥檛 on Twitter.鈥�

NASA along with FEMA 鈥渢o investigate how NEO observers, space agency officials, emergency managers, decision makers and citizens might respond to an actual impact prediction and evolving information.鈥�

Space enthusiasts can follow along on Twitter to see what solutions and protocols to the asteroid impact will be presented at the conference, which runs from April 29 to May 3.

This topic has been the theme of many epic films and TV series, but what really are the chances of an , and what are our options? unfortunately isnt on twitter鈽勶笍
鈥� ESA Operations (@esaoperations)

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鈥檚 path
鈥� ESA Operations (@esaoperations)