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DE-STAR system operation principle diagram.
Scientists from the California Institute of Technology and the University of California, Santa Barbara, have proposed an innovative approach to protect Earth from potential asteroid threats. Their project, called DE-STAR, is designed not only to detect and neutralize hazardous asteroids but also to analyze their composition and support future deep-space missions.
The urgency for such a system has been heightened by recent events. On February 15, a meteorite shower struck several regions in Siberia, Russia, after a prolonged period of rainfall. Just one day earlier, on February 14, a small asteroid the size of a football field passed close to Earth, raising concerns about the need for proactive defense mechanisms against space debris.
In response, a team of researchers from UC Santa Barbara and Caltech unveiled a groundbreaking idea: using solar energy to create a large-scale laser array capable of tracking and potentially destroying dangerous asteroids. This concept, dubbed "DE-STAR," aims to provide a strategic solution before any threat becomes imminent.
Philip Rubin, a physics professor at UC Santa Barbara, emphasized the importance of taking early action. “We must address these challenges with logic and reason,†he said. “It's better to act in advance rather than react when it's too late. We can make a difference, and we should start now—starting small and without needing massive resources.â€
The DE-STAR system works by harnessing solar power to generate a powerful laser beam that can lock onto and disintegrate incoming asteroids. Gary Hughes, a researcher at Caltech, noted that all the necessary components already exist, though scaling them up remains a challenge. “The basic elements are there, and we can begin building now,†he added.
According to the team’s vision, the system can range in size from a desktop model to a massive structure spanning 10 kilometers in diameter. For example, DE-STAR2, which would be about the size of the International Space Station, could push threatening objects out of harm’s way. A larger version, DE-STAR4, could emit over 1.4 trillion tons of energy daily, capable of melting a 500-meter-wide asteroid within a year.
Beyond planetary defense, the system has broader applications. It could help identify valuable minerals on asteroids and serve as a power source for deep-space exploration, eliminating the need to carry heavy fuel supplies.
The research team is currently preparing a detailed proposal for peer review, aiming to bring this ambitious project closer to reality. With growing awareness of space threats, the DE-STAR initiative represents a bold step toward safeguarding our planet and expanding humanity’s reach into the cosmos.
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