# Sandia National Laboratories Develops Advanced Asteroid Deflection Model

- Published: 2026-11-06 21:39 UTC
- Section: Sky & Space › Space
- Tags: asteroid deflection, nuclear detonation, X-ray bursts, planetary defense, Sandia National Laboratories
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-8e7b07d8cb935b41609fa2ff_sandia_national_laboratories/

**New simulations reveal how asteroid shapes impact deflection strategies, crucial for planetary defense.**

![Sandia National Laboratories Develops Advanced Asteroid Deflection Model](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/3101f0ac4315c9b9.jpg)
*NASA Desert RATS, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain*

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sandia National Laboratories has developed a new asteroid deflection model that incorporates realistic asteroid shapes and high-fidelity mathematics, yielding significant insights into deflection strategies. This research was published in the journal Icarus and led by physicist Nathan Moore. The study highlights the importance of targeting specific sides of irregularly shaped asteroids when using nuclear detonation to alter their trajectories.

## Asteroid Deflection Insights

The research indicates that the effectiveness of deflecting an asteroid using X-ray bursts varies significantly based on the angle of impact. For instance, one simulation showed a deflection velocity of 3.9 millimeters per second from one angle, compared to just 0.8 millimeters per second from another angle, demonstrating a nearly fivefold difference. Additionally, the change in rotational speed after deflection varied by a factor of 17 for different asteroids. These findings emphasize that understanding an asteroid's shape is critical for successful deflection attempts.

Moore's team created the most accurate asteroid deflection model to date, overcoming previous limitations that simplified the problem by focusing on either realistic shapes or high-fidelity math. The new model combines both aspects, allowing for a more detailed analysis of asteroid deflection scenarios. The algorithm developed is over 1,600 times faster than previous models, enabling more complex simulations.

## Implications for Planetary Defense

The simulations utilize high-resolution 3D imagery from spacecraft flybys to model asteroids and simulate the effects of X-ray bursts. The resulting heat maps indicate how much of the asteroid's surface would be vaporized, which is essential for predicting how the asteroid would be pushed and how fast it would spin. The goal is to nudge the asteroid off course without breaking it into smaller, potentially hazardous pieces.

While the current model only considers surface breakup, further research is needed to accurately predict the behavior of the entire asteroid body. This study provides a valuable tool for planning potential deflection missions, highlighting the importance of precise targeting in planetary defense scenarios.

## Sources

1. [newsreleases.sandia.gov](https://newsreleases.sandia.gov/asteroid-defense-hits-a-lump-in-the-road/)
2. [universetoday.com](https://www.universetoday.com/articles/asteroids-oddball-shapes-make-deflecting-them-challenging)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-8e7b07d8cb935b41609fa2ff_sandia_national_laboratories/