<p>Potentially threatening asteroids can be deflected from colliding with earth using a novel technique - spraying a thin layer of paint on the approaching space rock, experts claim.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to Dave Hyland, Texas A&M University aerospace and physics professor, the science behind the plan is absolutely rock solid so much so that Nasa is getting involved and wants to know much more.<br /><br />Hyland says one possible way to avert an asteroid collision with earth is by using a process called “tribocharging powder dispensing” - as in high pressured - and spreading a thin layer of paint on an approaching asteroid, like the one named DA14 that came within 17,000 miles on February 15.<br /><br />What happens is that the paint changes the amount by which the asteroid reflects sunlight, Hyland theorises, producing a change in what is called the Yarkovski effect - discovered by a Russian engineer in 1902. The force arises because on a spinning asteroid, the dusk side is warmer than the dawn side and emits more thermal photons, each photon carrying a small momentum. The unequal heating of the asteroid results in a net force strong enough to cause the asteroid to shift from its current orbit, Hyland theorises.<br /><br />“It could not be a water-based or oil-based paint because it would probably explode within seconds of it entering space,” Hyland noted. “But a powdered form of paint could be used to dust on the asteroid and the sun would then do the rest. </p>
<p>Potentially threatening asteroids can be deflected from colliding with earth using a novel technique - spraying a thin layer of paint on the approaching space rock, experts claim.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to Dave Hyland, Texas A&M University aerospace and physics professor, the science behind the plan is absolutely rock solid so much so that Nasa is getting involved and wants to know much more.<br /><br />Hyland says one possible way to avert an asteroid collision with earth is by using a process called “tribocharging powder dispensing” - as in high pressured - and spreading a thin layer of paint on an approaching asteroid, like the one named DA14 that came within 17,000 miles on February 15.<br /><br />What happens is that the paint changes the amount by which the asteroid reflects sunlight, Hyland theorises, producing a change in what is called the Yarkovski effect - discovered by a Russian engineer in 1902. The force arises because on a spinning asteroid, the dusk side is warmer than the dawn side and emits more thermal photons, each photon carrying a small momentum. The unequal heating of the asteroid results in a net force strong enough to cause the asteroid to shift from its current orbit, Hyland theorises.<br /><br />“It could not be a water-based or oil-based paint because it would probably explode within seconds of it entering space,” Hyland noted. “But a powdered form of paint could be used to dust on the asteroid and the sun would then do the rest. </p>