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Asteroid threats seems only taken seriously when the last close call is fresh in memory. But it didn't last long enough to establish consistent funding. On March 23, 1989, when an asteroid 300 meters in diameter called 1989FC passed within 684 000 kilometers from Earth. New York Times wrote, "In cosmic terms, it was a close call." This event also woke up the powers that were after this arguably close brush with total annihilation. The US Congress asked NASA to prepare a report on the threat posed by asteroids. The document from 1992, "The Spaceguard Survey: Report of the NASA International Near-Earth-Object Detection Workshop," was rather bleak.
If a large Near-Earth Object (NEO) were to hit the Earth, the report said, its denizens could look forward to acid rain, firestorms, and an impact winter induced by dust being thrown kilometers into the stratosphere. After reports from the National Research Council made it clear that meeting the discovery requirement outlined in the Congressional mandate was impossible given the lack of program funding, NEOO got a tenfold budget increase from 2009 to 2014. Yet it still faces a number of difficulties. An audit of the program released September 2014 described the NEOO program as "a one-man operation that is poorly integrated and lacking in objectives and oversight".
Original Submission
(Score: 2) by Dr Spin on Wednesday July 01 2015, @08:42AM
Surely a Zombie invasion is a far bigger risk than an avoidable hit by an asteroid that might do serious damage?
Why not address more serious, imminent, threats like Alzheimers, Ebola, or plague. Even if globule warming is
not man made, it will still do us in before an asteroid.
Here in Europe, invasion by people whose own country is a political mess is a serious problem. perhaps something
(other than US invasion) could be tried there?
Asteroid defence is just another American political pork barrel - fortunately not a very full one. Lets keep it that way.
Warning: Opening your mouth may invalidate your brain!
(Score: 2) by ragequit on Wednesday July 01 2015, @07:40PM
It would hilarious if we cured cancer and then 3 months later got obliterated by an asteroid we didn't see coming.
The above views are fabricated for your reading pleasure.
(Score: 1) by Absolutely.Geek on Wednesday July 01 2015, @11:02PM
It is an interesting point you made; but I propose that we work on all of the issues at once.
Don't trust the police or the government - Shihad: My mind's sedate.