I just saw the movie “don’t look up” and without spoilers, the USA chooses a very controversial way to deal with a comet coming to Earth.
But in real life, how would things works out? Who is in charge of space? It can’t be the UN as they are completely toothless on Earth anyway.
If there was a comet threat and the USA says we have to divert it and Russia say no way, we have to blow it up. What would happen? Would both countries send their teams to the comet and fight each other once they arrive?
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No one is in charge of space. Activity in space is regulated by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty)
You can in many ways compare it to Antarctica on earth because it is Drawing heavily from the Antarctic Treaty
Another comparison is to activate in international water.
If countries start to fight in space it is no different than if they would do it on earth. No one would try to blow up an object that is heading for earth, if you break it apart most of it will still follow the same path. The multiple smaller pieces will do more damage when they hit the earth.
Changing its orbit is the only option we have. There are multiple ways it could be done and detonating a nuclear bomb on one side of it is one possible way to change its orbit.
So large explosions can be a part of a mission but it would be a way to diverse it not to break it apart.
https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/328234-we-might-be-able-to-nuke-asteroids-to-save-the-planet-after-all
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