  protected from asteroids
Russia is prepared to repel asteroids to save Earth "if necessary," deputy head of the Russian space agency Viktor Remishevsky said Tuesday, ITAR-TASS news agency reported. "If necessary, Russia's rocket-manufacturing complex can create the means in space to repulse asteroids threatening Earth," Remishevsky said, without giving further details.
The official stressed that saving Earth from the threat of asteroids demanded international cooperation.
"Above all, space research institutions, telescopes, and the infrastructure of the Russian Academy of Sciences should warn about the threat of asteroids falling to Earth," Remishevsky said.
According to Russia's Institute of Applied Astronomy, about 400 asteroids and over 30 comets currently present a potential threat to the planet.
The institute's specialists are particularly concerned about an asteroid known as Number 2907, a kilometer-wide chunk of space rock that they believe "with a large degree of certainty" will strike the Earth on December 16, 2880.
Source: Agence France-Presse  | 
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