Guarding against Armageddon (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Guarding against Armageddon

IDEAS which could save the Earth from destruction by a rogue asteroid from space are being mooted by scientists.

Experts from two Scottish universities have are being funded by the Swindon-based Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to study ways of possibly deflecting giant space rocks.

Although methods for beating rogue asteroids have been thrown around before, the new study will be first looking at how such a defence could be built.

Professor Colin McInnes, department of mechanical engineering at University of Strathclyde, said: "We will be looking at this as engineers. It is no use having a brilliant deflection scheme if no one can build it with current technology."

The experts are considering methods such as using a giant space mirror, which would focus sunlight onto the rock and boil parts of it away or the creation of a battering ram spacecraft that could deflect an asteroid.

Asteroids have widely differing compositions, ranging from pure rock or even metal to ice and snow so knowing what an asteroid is made from and therefore its likely strength would be seen as one of the first crucial steps in determining the best way to divert it without shattering it.