Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth-Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies by National Research Council; Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences; Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board; Space Studies Board and Committee to Review Near-Earth-Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies

National Academies Press, 2010. Paperback. New. 152 pages. 10.90x8.50x0.30 inches.

Paperback / softback. New. 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 of 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"… Read More