Part 3/14:
Despite understanding the threat, humanity currently lacks a robust plan for deflecting or destroying approaching asteroids. Scientists have devised various clever tricks: painting asteroids to change their trajectory by sunlight, landing thrusters to steer them, or firing laser beams to vaporize parts of their surface. Additionally, spacecraft are considered for collision or landing missions. However, all these methods face significant hurdles because most newer asteroids are small, loosely assembled piles of gravel and debris, making them harder to alter or break apart.