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Space
Space
Science
Elizabeth Howell

Can we safely deflect a killer asteroid without making it worse? Only if we avoid the gravitational 'keyhole,' scientists say

Earth NASA
A spacecraft with solar panels heads for an asteroid in the darkness of space.

Smacking a planet-threatening asteroid comes with big responsibility.

If we slam an impactor into an asteroid in exactly the wrong spot, the space rock may pass through a "gravitational keyhole" that actually brings it to Earth — which is exactly what planetary defense scientists and mission planners don't want to happen.

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