'Earth's geological and biological history is punctuated by evidence of repeated and devastating impacts from space.....A future asteroid collision could have disastrous effects on our interconnected human society......Existing space technology makes possible the successful deflection of the vast majority of hazardous NEOs. However, once a threatening object is discovered, maximizing the time to make use of that technology will be equally important.'This report calls for the United Nations to create an intergovernmental program to protect against asteroid threats.
Comment: There is, I would guess, only a very small probability of an asteroid impact on the earth during the next century; there has not been one in the millennia of recorded history. On the other hand, that probability is not zero. Obviously, the destruction caused by such an impact could be huge. It certainly seems that we could obtain warning of an impending impact, and apparently we could take action to mitigate its consequences or prevent the impact entirely. Under those circumstances, it seems prudent to carefully make a policy in an intergovernmental forum, based on the best scientific and technological knowledge.
The people in the Association of Space Explorers are highly selected and vastly experienced. I believe we should listen to their advice! JAD
No comments:
Post a Comment