Scientists from China have proposed a new strategy for planetary defense, suggesting the use of nuclear weapons to destroy asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth. Published in the journal Space: Science & Technology in August 2026, the study outlines a method where a nuclear charge is embedded inside an asteroid to break it apart from within. This approach is aimed at ensuring the complete destruction of the object, as opposed to simply altering its path, which is the current standard. The research highlights the potential danger of near-Earth asteroids, with NASA estimating that up to 15,000 such objects—each several hundred meters in size—could be orbiting undetected. These asteroids, if they were to collide with Earth, could cause catastrophic damage, potentially wiping out entire cities. According to the study, a 300 kiloton nuclear charge would be sufficient to destroy a 50-meter diameter asteroid, while a 3 megaton bomb would be needed for a 100-meter object. For context, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 had a yield of about 15 kilotons. The proposed method involves deploying a nuclear device directly into the asteroid’s body, allowing the explosion to fragment the object entirely. However, the researchers note that no current spacecraft is capable of drilling into the surface of a moving asteroid while carrying a nuclear charge across millions of kilometers. This technology remains in the conceptual stage, with no prototypes or fully developed systems available yet. The NASA DART mission, which successfully altered the trajectory of the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022, currently represents the most advanced planetary defense strategy. Unlike the DART approach, which focuses on deflection, the Chinese study advocates for destruction as a possible future option. The study contributes to planetary defense by establishing clear thresholds for the power needed to destroy asteroids of different sizes, enabling the development of standardized response protocols. The next step, according to the researchers, would be to integrate these models with improved early detection systems, such as NASA’s upcoming NEO Surveyor space telescope. Scheduled for launch, this telescope aims to enhance the identification and tracking of potentially hazardous near-Earth objects, providing critical data for future planetary defense strategies.