Defending Planet Earth; Near-Earth-Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies
Washington DC: The National Academies Press, 2010. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Wraps. xvii, [1], 134 pages. Footnotes. Illustrations (Tables, Figures, Photographs, some with color). References. Bibliography. Appendixes. Glossary and Selected Acronyms. The United States spends approximately $4 million each year searching for near-Earth objects (NEOs). The objective is to detect those that may collide with Earth. The majority of this funding supports the operation of several observatories that scan the sky searching for NEOs. This, however, is insufficient in detecting the majority of NEOs that may present a tangible threat to humanity. A significantly smaller amount of funding supports ways to protect the Earth from such a potential collision or “mitigation.” In 2005, a Congressional mandate called for NASA to detect 90 percent of NEOs with diameters of 140 meters or greater by 2020. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies identifies the need for detection of objects as small as 30 to 50 meters as these can be highly destructive. The book explores four main types of mitigation including civil defense, “slow push” or “pull” methods, kinetic impactors and nuclear explosions. It also asserts that responding effectively to hazards posed by NEOs requires national and international cooperation. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies is a useful guide for scientists, astronomers, policy makers and engineers. The Table of Contents: Front Matter; Summary; 1 Introduction; 2 Risk Analysis; 3 Survey and Detection of Near-Earth Objects; 4 Characterization; 5 Mitigation; 6 Research; 7 National and International Coordination and Collaboration; 8 Optimal Approaches; Appendixes: Appendix A: Independent Cost Assessment; Appendix B: Letter of Request; Appendix C: Committee, Panel, and Staff Biographical Information; Appendix D: Minority Opinion - Mark Boslough, Mitigation Panel Member; Appendix E: Glossary and Selected Acronyms.
Planetary defense is the organized global effort to detect, track, and mitigate potential asteroid or comet impacts on Earth. Coordinated by agencies like NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO), it involves surveying for Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) to prevent catastrophic natural disasters. Strategies include detection, characterization, and deflection techniques like kinetic impactors. Key Components of Planetary Defense: Detection & Tracking: Astronomers use telescopes to find and monitor NEOs, forecasting their paths to identify risks; and Characterization: Scientists analyze the size, shape, composition, and spin rate of hazardous objects. Mitigation/Deflection: Kinetic Impactors: Crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid to alter its path (e.g., NASA's DART mission); Nuclear Explosions: An option for large threats or short warning times; "Slow Push/Pull" Methods: Utilizing gravity tractors or laser ablation to gently change an object's orbit. Organizations and Partnerships: NASA & PDCO: Leads US efforts and coordinates with international partners, including the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG). Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL): Involved in developing mission technologies: The Planetary Society: Supports research and advocacy for planetary defense. Key Takeaways: Asteroid impacts are rare, but potentially devastating. It is considered the only natural disaster humanity could potentially avoid. The goal is to detect threats early to allow for smaller, manageable deflections. Condition: Very good.
Keywords: Risk Analysis, Near-Earth Objection, Survey, Detection, Space-based, Ground-based, Kinetic Impact, International Cooperation, Nuclear Standoff Burst, Civil Defense
ISBN: 9780309149686
[Book #91089]
Price: $135.00