Nine students from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have developed a spacecraft that will protect earth from falling objects from space.

This may sound like the makings of a cheesy Hollywood script, but it is true.

The spacecraft was developed after scientists discovered an asteroid (named Apophis) which they believe could collide with the Earth in 2036.

The spacecraft is initially planned to be launched in 2020 where it will approach the asteroid and launch two penetrating devices. These devices will include a camera, transmitter and antenna. The equipment will gather various data about the asteroid, including where it's trajectory will take it.

If needed, the spacecraft will then approach the asteroid again in 2025 and use its gravitational pull to divert the path of the asteroid so it safely passes by Earth.

‘The spacecraft is what will make the difference,’ said student Lior Avital. ‘It will divert the asteroid one kilometre and with the help of the Earth, in seven years - 7,000km.’

Another alternative presented to NASA was using a nuclear bomb to blow the asteroid up. Experts believed that two asteroids are many small asteroids could pose a much great threat than diverting the asteroid with the students spacecraft.