Nuclear weapon 'could be used to defend Earth from asteroid' A nuclear weapon could potentially be sent into space to deflect an asteroid heading Earth's way, an astronomer has told Sky News.
Dr David Whitehouse said the measure could be taken against a space rock the size of a football pitch which is being monitored by the European Space Agency (ESA) and could strike the planet in a little over seven years.
Dr Whitehouse said emergency deflection measures may need to be considered, including reaching the rock in 2028 in an attempt to nudge it "slightly out of its orbit" so that four years later it misses Earth.
Speaking to Sky News' Kay Burley, Dr Whitehouse said that had now dropped to a one in 67 chance, which he said was "unacceptable to ignore".
Dr Whitehouse said: "We might even have to consider the severe measures of sending up a nuclear weapon to the surface of this asteroid in order to deflect it further.".
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