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Planetary Defense

All articles tagged with #planetary defense

Near-Earth 2-meter asteroid slips by 428 km from Earth undetected, exposing defense blind spots
science3 days ago

Near-Earth 2-meter asteroid slips by 428 km from Earth undetected, exposing defense blind spots

An ~2-meter asteroid named 2025 TF passed Antarctica at about 428 km altitude—too close to be safe and unseen until after it already flew by. The event underscores how detection of tiny near-Earth objects has surged (ATLAS and bigger datasets since 2000–07 vs 2017–26) but also reveals blind spots, as larger 200-meter rock 2025 FA22 was only spotted six months before a close approach. Rubin Observatory and NASA’s space-based NEO Surveyor (targeted for 2027) aim to close these gaps, improving lead times for potential deflections in the future.

via Boing Boing|
#asteroid#detection#near-earth-object
NASA: 15,000 Hidden Asteroids Could Cause Regional Devastation
science7 days ago

NASA: 15,000 Hidden Asteroids Could Cause Regional Devastation

NASA warns about roughly 15,000 near‑Earth asteroids larger than 140 meters that remain undetected due to sunward orbits and observational limits, creating a gap in planetary defense even though no immediate threat exists. Infrared space surveys (NEO Surveyor) and ground-based observatories (Rubin) aim to close this gap, but active defense would require long lead times and currently lacks a ready-to-deploy mission.

via The Daily Galaxy|
#detection-gap#infrared-surveys#nearearth-asteroids
Undetected City-Killer Asteroids Threaten Cities, NASA Warns
space8 days ago

Undetected City-Killer Asteroids Threaten Cities, NASA Warns

NASA experts warn that thousands of mid-sized near-Earth asteroids (roughly 140 meters and larger) could strike regional cities, but most remain undetected; scientists estimate up to 25,000 such objects exist near Earth, with only about 40% identified so far, highlighting gaps in detection and defense, despite progress like the Near-Earth Object Surveyor telescope and lessons from the DART mission, with experts urging more funding and planning to prevent regional catastrophes.

via The Daily Galaxy|
#asteroids#astronomy#near-earth-objects
Stand-off Nuclear Detonation Emerges as a Viable Path to Deflect Asteroids, Says New Study
science22 days ago

Stand-off Nuclear Detonation Emerges as a Viable Path to Deflect Asteroids, Says New Study

A Nature Communications study suggests that some asteroids may actually strengthen when stressed and that a stand-off nuclear detonation could alter an asteroid's trajectory without fragmentation, offering a new approach to planetary defense; however, real-world validation is difficult and relies on precise data and simulations rather than tests on actual asteroids.

via The Daily Galaxy|
#asteroid-deflection#material-science#nuclear-deflection
Nuclear Deflection Could Work as Last-Resort Asteroid Defense, Study Finds
science24 days ago

Nuclear Deflection Could Work as Last-Resort Asteroid Defense, Study Finds

A new Nature Communications study suggests a nuclear deflection could be a viable last-resort method to steer an Earthbound asteroid, because iron rocks can strengthen under extreme stress and dissipate energy in real time. Experiments at CERN’s HiRadMat irradiated a Campo del Cielo meteorite sample, revealing non-destructive, real-time deformation including strain-rate dependent damping, which helps explain why some models underestimate asteroid resistance. The work emphasizes that deflection strategies must depend on asteroid composition and may favor a stand-off nuclear detonation near the surface over a direct blast, with more research needed across different asteroid types.

via ScienceAlert|
#asteroid#materials-science#meteorite
The Future of Space Mining: Unlocking Asteroid Treasures
science1 month ago

The Future of Space Mining: Unlocking Asteroid Treasures

A study in MNRAS reveals that most asteroids, especially carbon-rich ones, contain low precious metals, making mining for gold unviable. Instead, water-rich asteroids are identified as more practical resources for future space exploration, providing water for fuel and life support, while also aiding planetary defense efforts. Technological challenges remain significant for actual mining operations, emphasizing the need for further research and development.

via The Daily Galaxy|
#asteroid-mining#carbonaceous-chondrites#planetary-defense
NASA's DART Mission Successfully Redirects Asteroid Dimorphos
science2 months ago

NASA's DART Mission Successfully Redirects Asteroid Dimorphos

NASA's DART mission successfully shifted the orbit of asteroid Dimorphos by crashing a spacecraft into it, but unexpected debris ejected from the asteroid, including large boulders, carried additional momentum and altered the asteroid's motion in unforeseen ways, highlighting the complex physics involved in planetary defense efforts. The upcoming Hera mission will further study these effects.

via Indian Defence Review|
#asteroid-deflection#dart-mission#dimorphos
Students devise plan to prevent Armageddon
science3 months ago

Students devise plan to prevent Armageddon

In the 1960s, MIT students and a professor devised a plan called 'Project Icarus' to prevent a catastrophic asteroid impact, which involved detecting and deflecting the asteroid using existing technology. Their efforts contributed to the development of modern planetary defense strategies, significantly reducing the risk of asteroid-induced extinction today.

via National Geographic|
#asteroid-impact#icarus-asteroid#mit-students
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Offers Insights for Earth Defense and Space Exploration
science4 months ago

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Offers Insights for Earth Defense and Space Exploration

A newly discovered interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS, is being observed by NASA and international astronomers to improve our ability to track potentially hazardous objects, even though it poses no threat to Earth. The campaign aims to refine asteroid pathway predictions, which is crucial for planetary defense, and involves citizen scientists and global collaboration.

via Space|
#asteroid-monitoring#interstellar-comet#nasa
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Sparks Scientific and Cultural Interest
science4 months ago

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Sparks Scientific and Cultural Interest

The International Asteroid Warning Network has launched a campaign to monitor the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which exhibits unusual qualities suggesting a possible technological origin, and plans to use Earth-based observations and potential spacecraft interception to study it further, with close approach expected in December 2025.

via Avi Loeb – Medium|
#3iatlas#asteroid-monitoring#extraterrestrial