What's Happening?
NASA's acting Planetary Defence Officer, Dr. Kelly Fast, has issued a stark warning about Earth's vulnerability to thousands of 'city-killer' asteroids. Speaking at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) conference, Dr. Fast highlighted
that while about 25,000 asteroids large enough to cause regional devastation have been identified, only 40% are currently tracked. This leaves approximately 15,000 potentially dangerous asteroids unmonitored. These mid-size asteroids, defined as being roughly 140 meters or larger, are difficult to detect with traditional telescopes due to their dark and slow-reflecting nature. Despite advancements in asteroid detection and deflection technologies, such as NASA's DART mission, the current systems are not equipped to handle a sudden threat from these untracked asteroids.
Why It's Important?
The warning underscores a significant gap in global preparedness against near-Earth objects (NEOs), posing a potential threat to metropolitan areas. The lack of a reliable defense mechanism against these asteroids could lead to catastrophic consequences if one were to strike a populated region. The historical Tunguska event, which flattened a large area of Siberian forest, serves as a reminder of the potential impact of such asteroids. The current inability to detect and deflect these asteroids highlights the need for increased investment in planetary defense and international cooperation to enhance early detection capabilities.
What's Next?
NASA is preparing to launch the Near-Earth Object Surveyor (NEO Surveyor), an infrared space telescope designed to detect previously unseen asteroids by identifying their heat signatures. This mission aims to improve the detection rate of city-killer asteroids significantly. Additionally, expanded ground-based surveys and international collaborations, such as the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), are expected to enhance early warning capabilities. These efforts are crucial for mounting potential deflection missions to steer dangerous objects away from Earth.
