Experts call for establishing near-earth asteroid surveillance network
Scientists have identified almost 6,000 near-earth objects (NEOs) whose orbits intersect with the Earth’s; five-hundred to 1,000 NEOs have a diameter of over 150 kilometers
We have noted in the past that all the investment in homeland security (and defense, for that matter) would not mean much if mankind does not find a way to defend Earth against large meteorites. The Association of Space Explorers (ASE) agrees, and earlier this week it called for cooperation of the international society on establishing a global near-earth asteroid surveillance network so as to prevent any potential dangers from outer space. According to a report titled “Asteroid Threats: A Call for Global Response” published by ASE, scientists have already found almost 6,000 near-earth objects (NEOs) whose orbits intersect with the Earth’s. Five-hundred to 1,000 NEOs have a diameter of over 150 kilometers.
Scientists believe that collision of NEOs of this size with the Earth may cause global disasters. Therefore, the international community should establish a network of global research, information exchange, and prevention under the lead of the United Nations so as to respond to the potential space threat.
President of the International Panel on Asteroid Threat Mitigation (IPTAM) Russell Schweickart pointed out that with the progress and development of the observation technology, detected NEOs will increase, expected to reach one million by 2020. Therefore, the international society needs to take preventative measures. He said that evidence shows that there have been incidents of NEO-earth collision in earth-history.
The good news is that experts emphasize that the progress and development of the technology make it possible for human beings to forecast and have time to take measures to avoid such disasters.
