Moving Earth out of the path of an incoming asteroid is a complex and hypothetical scenario. The feasibility and time required to divert an asteroid depend on several factors, including the size and composition of the asteroid, the available technology, and the amount of warning time.
If we had ten years of advance notice, it would provide a significant advantage compared to shorter warning times. With a decade of preparation, scientists and space agencies would have time to develop and implement a plan to mitigate the asteroid threat. Some potential methods for diverting an asteroid include:
Gravity Tractor: By placing a spacecraft near the asteroid, its gravitational pull could gradually alter the asteroid's trajectory over time.
Kinetic Impactor: A spacecraft could be directed to collide with the asteroid, transferring its momentum and altering the asteroid's course.
Ion Beam Shepherd: Ion thrusters or focused solar energy could be used to gradually push the asteroid off its collision course.
Nuclear Detonation: In extreme cases, a nuclear explosion near the asteroid could provide the necessary force to change its trajectory. However, this option is highly complex and carries significant risks.
Implementing any of these methods would require thorough planning, technological development, and international cooperation. It is difficult to provide a definitive answer without specific details about the asteroid and the available resources and capabilities at the time. Nonetheless, a decade of warning would significantly increase the chances of successfully mitigating an asteroid threat compared to shorter notice periods.