<P> Armageddon is a 1998 American science fiction disaster film directed by Michael Bay, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, and released by Touchstone Pictures . The film follows a group of blue - collar deep - core drillers sent by NASA to stop a gigantic asteroid on a collision course with Earth . It stars Bruce Willis and an ensemble cast comprising, Ben Affleck, Billy Bob Thornton, Liv Tyler, Owen Wilson, Will Patton, Peter Stormare, William Fichtner, Michael Clarke Duncan, Keith David, and Steve Buscemi . </P> <P> Armageddon opened in theaters two and a half months after the similar asteroid impact - based film Deep Impact which starred Robert Duvall and Morgan Freeman . Although Armageddon fared better at the box office, astronomers described Deep Impact as being more scientifically accurate . Armageddon was an international box - office success despite generally negative reviews from critics, becoming the highest - grossing film of 1998 worldwide . </P> <P> A massive meteor shower destroys the orbiting Space Shuttle Atlantis and bombards a swath of land around the North Atlantic . NASA discovers through the Hubble Space Telescope that the meteors were debris propelled from the asteroid belt by a rogue asteroid roughly the size of Texas, christened "Dottie" by its discoverer . The asteroid will collide with Earth in 18 days, causing a second extinction event . NASA scientists, led by Dan Truman, plan to trigger a thermonuclear detonation at least 800 ft (244 m) inside the asteroid to split it in two, driving the pieces apart so both will fly past the Earth . NASA contacts Harry Stamper, considered the best deep - sea oil driller in the world, for assistance . Harry insists he will need his full team to help execute NASA's plan, and they agree to help but only after their list of unusual rewards are met . </P> <P> NASA plans to launch two specialized Space Shuttle orbiters, the X-71s, Freedom and Independence, to increase the chances of success; the shuttles will refill with liquid oxygen from the 11 - year - old Russian space station Mir (which is modified to have artificial gravity by rotating on itself) before making a slingshot maneuver around the Moon to approach the asteroid from behind . NASA puts Harry and his crew through a short and rigorous astronaut training program, while Harry's team re-outfit the mobile drillers, "Armadillos", for the job . During training, Truman and Harry are skeptical about the abilities of A.J. Frost, a hot - headed drill operator who has been dating Harry's daughter Grace against Harry's wishes . </P>

What is the name of the asteroid in armageddon