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Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth-Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies
Contributor(s): National Research Council (Author), Division on Engineering and Physical Sci (Author), Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board (Author)
ISBN: 0309149681     ISBN-13: 9780309149686
Publisher: National Academies Press
OUR PRICE:   $47.50  
Product Type: Paperback
Published: July 2010
Qty:
Temporarily out of stock - Will ship within 2 to 5 weeks
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Science | Physics - Astrophysics
- Science | Space Science
Dewey: 363.349
LCCN: 2010283484
Physical Information: 0.4" H x 8.4" W x 10.9" (1.30 lbs) 134 pages
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:

The United States spends approximately $4 million each year searching for near-Earth objects (NEOs). The objective is to detect those that may collide with Earth. The majority of this funding supports the operation of several observatories that scan the sky searching for NEOs. This, however, is insufficient in detecting the majority of NEOs that may present a tangible threat to humanity. A significantly smaller amount of funding supports ways to protect the Earth from such a potential collision or mitigation.

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.