Astronomers hash out defense against asteroids
A billion dollars needed to spot potential killer impacts. Jeff Kanipe
| Crash landing: how do we stop this from happening? Don Davis/NASA |
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Astronomers
trying to save the world from Earth-threatening asteroids have this
week composed a white paper outlining the threat and what needs to be
done about it.
Although
it isn't their first white paper on the subject - that was released in
2004 - it is the first mandated by Congress. This, scientists hope, may
mean that their conclusions will be taken more seriously by
decision-makers in Washington.
In
2005, Congress passed a bill authorizing NASA to search for asteroids
as small as 140 metres that could possibly strike the Earth. The bill,
however, provided no money for the search. Scientists at the Planetary
Defense Conference, held 5-8 March in Washington DC to compose the new
white paper, were quick to point this out.
On
Monday, Simon 'Pete' Worden, director of NASA's Ames Research Center,
said that the cost of finding at least 90% of the 20,000 estimated
potential Earth-killers by 2020 would cost about $1 billion. US
government employees, including NASA scientists, don't usually make
public requests for more cash, but Worden was clear: "We know what to
do, we just don't have the money."
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