NASA asteroid hitting Earth - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. The likelihood of a large asteroid hitting Earth is extremely low. NASA closely monitors all near-Earth objects and has identified the vast majority of potentially hazardous asteroids.
- 2. NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office is responsible for tracking and assessing the risk of asteroid impacts. They work with international partners to develop strategies for mitigating the threat of a potential impact.
- 3. In the event that an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth, NASA has several options for deflecting it. These include using a spacecraft to nudge the asteroid off course, or detonating a nuclear device near the asteroid to change its trajectory.
- 4. NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission is designed to test the effectiveness of using a spacecraft to deflect an asteroid. The mission is scheduled to launch in November 2021 and will target a small moon of the asteroid Didymos.
- 5. NASA also conducts regular simulations and exercises to practice responding to a potential asteroid impact. These exercises involve government agencies, international partners, and the scientific community.
- 6. NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program is constantly monitoring the skies for new asteroids and comets that could potentially pose a threat to Earth. The program uses ground-based telescopes as well as space-based observatories to track these objects.
- 7. The chances of a large asteroid hitting Earth in the near future are extremely low. NASA estimates that the likelihood of a civilization-ending impact in the next 100 years is less than 0.1%.
- 8. Small asteroids do occasionally enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up, creating bright meteors known as fireballs. These events are relatively common and pose no threat to human civilization.
- 9. NASA is working on developing new technologies for detecting and tracking near-Earth objects. These include ground-based telescopes, space-based observatories, and new detection algorithms.
- 10. While the risk of a large asteroid impact is low, NASA takes the threat seriously and is actively working to develop strategies for mitigating the risk. By monitoring and tracking near-Earth objects, NASA is helping to ensure the safety and security of our planet.