Researchers say detonating nuclear devices may be the fastest way to stop asteroid YR4 from colliding with the moon.
NASA scientists are considering using nuclear weapons to prevent a “city killer” asteroid from colliding with the moon.
Asteroid 2024 YR4, first spotted in December 2024, has a 0.00081% chance of striking Earth on December 23, 2032, but researchers have raised the probability of a lunar impact to over 4%.
A study published on the arXiv preprint server suggests that two 100-kiloton nuclear devices could be deployed to destroy the 300-foot asteroid before impact.
“Deflection missions were assessed and appear impractical,” the team wrote, noting that reconnaissance would take too long. Instead, they argue, nuclear “robust disruption missions” could be launched between 2029 and 2031.
A lunar collision could release debris threatening satellites, spacecraft, and even NASA’s Artemis program. While the chance of impact remains slim, scientists say the nuclear option provides a model for defending against future asteroid threats.