NASA's Planetary Defense Chief Details Public Alert System for Impending Catastrophic Asteroid Strike

NASA's Lead Program Executive for the Planetary Defense Coordination Office, Lindley Johnson, revealed the calm process of informing the public about a deadly asteroid heading towards Earth, stating that there's no "red phone" on his desk but formal procedures for notification. If a serious impact is detected, NASA would inform the White House, which would then release an official statement to the public. The International Asteroid Warning Network and the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs would also be involved if the asteroid posed an international threat. NASA tracks potentially hazardous asteroids and has confirmed that it doesn't expect a deadly impact in the next century, but some experts express concerns about Earth's readiness to defend against such threats.