NASA and Astronomers Collaborate to Track and Alert Public of Dangerous Asteroids
In a world where the threat of an asteroid strike looms over humanity, NASA and a global coalition of astronomers are working together to find and track potentially dangerous asteroids. With the goal of alerting the public in the event of an impending disaster, NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office is at the forefront of this effort.
The Chicxulub impactor, a six-mile-wide asteroid that struck Earth 66 million years ago, serves as a chilling reminder of the devastation that can be caused by such an event. The dinosaurs, unaware of the impending danger, were wiped out as a shock wave two million times more powerful than a hydrogen bomb flattened forests and triggered tsunamis. The aftermath included a magnitude 10 earthquake, crumbling cities, and a cloud of hot dust, ash, and steam that blocked out the sun, leading to freezing temperatures. This catastrophic event resulted in the extinction of 75% of Earth’s species.
However, if a similar-sized asteroid were to approach Earth today, we would likely have advanced warning. NASA’s collaboration with the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), a global coalition of astronomers, ensures that observations and findings are shared across the network to verify and assess the danger. Once all parties agree on the threat, NASA would issue an alert.
In the United States, if an asteroid were headed towards the country, NASA would notify the White House, which would then release a formal statement to the public. For asteroids posing an international threat, IAWN would notify the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs.
To effectively track potentially hazardous asteroids, NASA and its partners continuously search for new asteroids while also monitoring those already known. The observations are compiled into a database at the Minor Planet Center. With over 34,000 near-Earth asteroids discovered so far, NASA can confidently predict their orbits at least a century into the future.
While the chances of a catastrophic asteroid strike are relatively low, NASA remains prepared. The potentially hazardous Bennu asteroid, for example, has a slim chance of hitting Earth in 159 years, but the odds are only about one in 2,700. In the event that Bennu does pose a threat, NASA has developed various techniques to defend our planet.
One such technique is the planetary defense test mission launched by NASA in 2021. The mission involved ramming an uncrewed spacecraft into an asteroid to alter its orbit away from Earth. This successful test paves the way for future deflection techniques, including the use of a “gravity tractor” that would position a spacecraft next to the asteroid, allowing gravitational forces to pull it out of its orbit. Additionally, NASA is exploring the use of an ion beam to shift an asteroid’s course.
However, these techniques require advanced notice of at least five to ten years to effectively deflect an asteroid. If the threat were imminent, NASA might have no choice but to resort to destruction in order to minimize and disperse the impact. In situations where only a few months’ warning is available, there is little that can be done to save Earth.
Fortunately, IAWN’s strategy focuses on finding asteroids decades or even centuries before they pose a threat. This proactive approach allows for ample time to take action while the asteroids are still in space, thereby avoiding any catastrophe on Earth.
The collaboration between NASA and astronomers worldwide serves as a beacon of hope in the face of potential asteroid strikes. By working together to track and alert the public, they strive to protect humanity from the devastating consequences of an asteroid impact. While the threat may be ever-present, their efforts provide a sense of security and a reminder that we are not alone in this vast universe.