An asteroid just triggered a global defense plan

Global defense protocols have been activated for the first time after observations revealed an asteroid that could hit Earth in 2032.

The US and Europe could consider diverting the asteroid's path by deploying interceptor spacecraft like in NASA's Dart mission.

On December 27, 2024, an asteroid named 2024 YR4, measuring 100 meters across, entered the field of view of a telescope in Chile, and has since risen to the top of the list of "killer planets" that are at risk of colliding with Earth in the near future.

Measurements by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) show that the risk of 2024 YR4 hitting Earth on December 22, 2032 has increased to 1.3%, according to The Guardian on January 30.

The discovery has alerted two UN-sanctioned asteroid response organizations: the International Asteroid Warning Network (a group of organizations and individuals that plan global space defense efforts) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (comprised of UN member states with space agencies).

In it, the advisory group could propose any intervention plan, such as launching a spacecraft to crash into the asteroid to deflect its flight path.

Professor Colin Snodgrass of the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) said that asteroid 2024 YR4 will need further observations before NASA and ESA can make predictions about the object's future path.

The threat level of 2024 YR4 is rated at 3/10 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale. The only asteroid rated higher than 2024 YR4 is asteroid Apophis, which shocked the world in 2004.

Apophis was initially rated 4/10, before being downgraded because observations showed the asteroid could not threaten Earth for at least a century.

Professor Gareth Collins of Imperial College London (UK) said the best thing to do now is to continue monitoring 2024 YR4 until its exact path can be predicted.

An asteroid the size of 2024 YR4 would not cause a mass extinction event like the one that occurred 66 million years ago among the dinosaurs (which would require an asteroid 10-15 km in size). However, a 100 m wide asteroid would still be enough to cause catastrophic destruction to a city.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mot-tieu-hanh-tinh-vua-kich-hoat-ke-hoach-phong-thu-toan-cau-185250131151643761.htm