Uploaded November 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
At Sandia National Laboratories, scientists are harnessing the power of the Z Machine — the largest pulsed power device on Earth — to explore innovative ways to deflect asteroids.
In a series of groundbreaking experiments, researchers simulate the effects of a nuclear burst aimed at diverting these massive space rocks. By unleashing an intense flash of x-rays on mock asteroids, they have achieved a remarkable milestone: the first experimental confirmation that we can indeed change the course of kilometer-sized asteroids in space.
This animation showcases the cutting-edge technology and research that could one day help safeguard our planet from catastrophic asteroid collisions.
Read more at:
newsreleases.sandia.gov/asteroid_deflection
nature.com/articles/s41567-024-02633-7
SAND2024-15566V
At Sandia National Laboratories, scientists are harnessing the power of the Z Machine — the largest pulsed power device on Earth — to explore innovative ways to deflect asteroids.
In a series of groundbreaking experiments, researchers simulate the effects of a nuclear burst aimed at diverting these massive space rocks. By unleashing an intense flash of x-rays on mock asteroids, they have achieved a remarkable milestone: the first experimental confirmation that we can indeed change the course of kilometer-sized asteroids in space.
This animation showcases the cutting-edge technology and research that could one day help safeguard our planet from catastrophic asteroid collisions.
Read more at:
newsreleases.sandia.gov/asteroid_deflection
nature.com/articles/s41567-024-02633-7
SAND2024-15566V
