step nuclear detonation proposed for short

Sci-fi correctly guessed the nuclear option, but it overlooked the depth.When a rogue asteroid hurtles toward Earth on short notice, gentle gravitational nudges and kinetic bumps won’t save the day. There would be a need for raw, unfiltered explosive power. But according to rocket scientists at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), slamming a nuclear warhead directly into the side of a space rock is a rookie mistake. And the space agencies should dig a hole first.A proposed planetary defense strategy suggests carving a crater into an incoming asteroid and detonating a nuclear warhead inside it. This subterranean explosion method could destroy or deflect a 100-meter (328-foot) asteroid before it poses a catastrophic threat to Earth.Depth over impactIn the new study, the team led by researcher Xiaowei Wang outlined a two-step strategy for planetary defense: the “flyby pre-excavation detonation mode”.