When we talk about asteroids and their potential threat to Earth, our thoughts immediately turn to dinosaurs. Indeed, to their extinction due to the impact of the asteroid Chicxulub and subsequent consequences. But what if we were the ones facing such a threat today?
Thanks to NASA and its Planetary Defense Coordination Office, the Planetary Defense Coordination Office, our species would not be unprepared. The space agency has plans to warn the public and strategies to deflect or even destroy a dangerous asteroid before it can reach our planet. Here are the ones.
We absolutely want to find them all before they find us.
Lindley Johnson , chief program executive for the Office of Planetary Defense Coordination.
The role of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office
NASA doesn't just explore space; is actively involved in protecting the Earth from threats coming from the cosmos. The Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) represents the "spearhead" of this mission, with the aim of identifying and monitoring asteroids that could represent a threat to our planet. Through collaboration with international partners, the PDCO works to promptly detect these celestial bodies, assess the risk they represent and plan the necessary countermeasures.
If a potentially dangerous asteroid on a collision course with Earth is detected, the PDCO would activate immediately the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN). Things? It is a global collaborative network between astronomers and space institutions tasked with validating detection data and assessing the threat. Once the danger of the object has been confirmed, NASA would coordinate with national and international authorities to disseminate the necessary information and prepare for a possible planetary defense action.
An asteroid is considered “ potentially dangerous ” if it is wider than about 140 meters (460 feet) and intersects Earth's orbit at a minimum distance of 0,5 astronomical units, which is half the distance between Earth and the sun. There are around 2300 of them like this around: and 153 of them reach one kilometer in diameter. One of the dangerous ones, asteroid Bennu recently reached by a Japanese mission, it could hit us in 159 years, but the possibility that it will it's one in 2700.
Defense strategies against an asteroid
Preventing a catastrophic asteroid impact takes time and precision. Among the strategies being studied by NASA is the asteroid deflection test, as demonstrated by DART mission (Double Asteroid Redirection Test). This mission, which involved the controlled impact of a space probe on an asteroid to change its trajectory, represents a significant first step towards human ability to deflect dangerous celestial bodies. Techniques, such as the “gravity tractor” or the use of “radio bullets” and other are under development to offer effective alternatives in the defense of our planet.
Emergency preparedness and communication
The key to dealing with an asteroid threat, however, lies not only in the ability to deflect it but also in preparation and effective communication. NASA and PDCO are committed to ensuring that, in the event of an emergency, information is disseminated quickly and accurately to the public and appropriate authorities. Collaboration with government bodies, international organizations such as the United Nations and the involvement of the global scientific community are essential to coordinate an effective response.
Thanks to the efforts of NASA and the international community, humanity is making great strides towards protecting itself from threats from space. Advanced technologies, international collaboration and strategic planning are the pillars on which our planetary defense is based, offering us the hope of being able to prevent catastrophic events (although apparently not imminent) and ensure a secure future for generations to come.
