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DE-STAR system operation principle diagram.
A group of researchers from Caltech and the University of California, Santa Barbara, has proposed an innovative approach to protect Earth from potential asteroid threats. The DE-STAR system is not only designed to detect and neutralize hazardous asteroids but also to analyze their composition and serve as a power source for deep-space missions.
Recently, two significant astronomical events have raised global concern. On February 15, several regions in Siberia experienced heavy rainfall followed by the close passage of a small asteroid, roughly the size of a football field. Just one day earlier, on February 14, a team of scientists announced a groundbreaking idea: using solar energy to build a large-scale laser array capable of monitoring and potentially destroying threatening asteroids in space.
Philip Rubin, a physics professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, emphasized the importance of proactive measures. "We need to think logically and act before it's too late," he said. "Waiting until the last minute won't help. We can make a real difference, and we must take action now, starting small without needing massive resources."
This initiative, called DE-STAR, stands for "Directed Energy System for Targeting Asteroids and Reaching Deep Space." Its core concept involves using solar energy to create a powerful laser array that can lock onto and vaporize incoming asteroids. Gary Hughes, a researcher at Caltech, explained that while the technology is already available, scaling it up remains a challenge. "The components are there, but we need to build something much larger," he noted.
The DE-STAR project includes various versions, ranging from small prototypes to massive systems. For instance, DE-STAR2, with a diameter of about 100 meters, could push dangerous objects out of Earth's path. Meanwhile, DE-STAR4, which would be 100 times more powerful, could generate 1.4 trillion tons of energy daily, sufficient to melt a 500-meter asteroid within a year.
Beyond planetary defense, the system has potential applications in space exploration. It could help identify valuable minerals on asteroids and even provide energy for long-distance space travel, reducing the need for heavy fuel loads. As the team prepares to submit their proposal for peer review, the future of asteroid defense looks more promising than ever.
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