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" methods, kinetic impactors and nuclear explosions. It also asserts that responding effectively to hazards posed by NEOs requires national and international cooperation. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies is a useful guide for scientists, astronomers, policy makers and engineers.
Table of Contents
Front Matter
Summary
1 Introduction
2 Risk Analysis
3 Survey and Detection of Near-Earth Objects
4 Characterization
5 Mitigation
6 Research
7 National and International Coordination and Collaboration
8 Optimal Approaches
Appendixes
Appendix A: Independent Cost Assessment
Appendix B: Letter of Request
Appendix C: Committee, Panel, and Staff Biographical Information
Appendix D: Minority Opinion - Mark Boslough, Mitigation Panel
Member
Appendix E: Glossary and Selected Acronyms
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