Rusty Schweickart Chairman, NEO Committee Association of Space Explorers Solutions to Earthly Problems? The Future of Space Exploration 13 April 2007.

Rusty SchweickartChairman, NEO Committee

Association of Space Explorers

Solutions to Earthly Problems?

The Future of Space Exploration13 April 2007

2007

The Three Components of Protection of the Earth from NEO

Impacts

Early Warning

Proven Deflection Capability

International Decision-making Protocol

100

102

104

106

108

1010

910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

10-1 102 105 108

100

102

104

106

108

0.01 0.1 1 10

NEAs, This reportStuart 2001Harris 2002Brown et al. 2002,annual bolide eventConstant power lawfrom 2003 SDT reportDiscovered to 10/31/06

K-T

Im

pac

tor

Tu

ngu

ska

Absolute Magnitude, H

Diameter, Km

N(<H

)

Impa

ct I

nte

rva

l, ye

ars

Impact Energy, MT

Early Warning

Spaceguard 1 & 2(Comparable Numbers)

2007 2019

Target Population1,000 80,000

71% completed708 64,000

Total Discovered4,640 370,000

Potential Impactors137 5 – 10,000(?)

Kinetic Impact

Pushes the asteroid via direct impact

Current Deflection Capability

Gravity Tractor

Pulls the asteroid using mutual gravity as a tow-rope

Nuclear Explosion

Explodes surface off NEO to create impulsive push

Earth orbital path

NEO orbital path

line of nodes

2007 - Path of Risk for Apophis

2020 - Paths of Risk for NEOs of Concern

The End

Q&A