This Highlight Lecture discussed the results presented at the 2007 Planetary Defense Conference.
The conference, held in Washington, D.C. in March, brought together the world's experts on Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and planetary defence, as well as individuals versed in legal issues and policy and disaster management.
The papers presented at the conference represent humanity's best understanding of the threat posed by NEOs and offered ideas on what we might do to reduce the chances of an impact disaster.
This lecture discussed a range of possible options for deflecting a threatening object and outline opportunities for future research on the nature of asteroids and comets and what technologies will be needed to eventually implement effective deflection techniques.
The 2036 close approach of the asteroid Apophis, which is currently predicted to have a 1 in 45 000 chance of impacting Earth, was highlighted as an example.
The speaker of this Highlight Lecture was Dr William Ailor, Director, Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies at the Aerospace Corporation, United States and the moderator Dr Christophe Bonnal, Senior Expert at the Technical Directorate - Launcher Directorate, Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France.
Various techniques to avoid or mitigate the Earth impact of NEOs were discussed. The techniques involved various deflection techniques like gravity tractors and mass drivers. He also discussed 'Slow push' possibilities, kinetic impact, nuclear explosives and so on.
The main engineering challenges in implementing these methods were analysed further in the presentation. Present possible scenarios regarding the probability of impacts, political, policy and legal issues were brought to the notice of the audience.
Finally the lecture dealt with public outreach possibilities for public awareness regarding consequences of NEO impacts and threat perceptions.
The talk was followed by a Question and Answer session where a lot of enthusiam was observed among the student participants in asking questions.
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Further reading
Images:
Asteroid collision - artist's impression. Credit: NASA
