Science Friday If An Asteroid Were Headed For Earth, Would We Be Ready?
Sep 17, 2025
Join Kelly Fast, the Acting Planetary Defense Officer at NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, as she shares insightful details on our ability to detect hazardous asteroids. Discover the cutting-edge NeoSurveyor satellite and its role in spotting potential threats, even near the sun. Fast also dives into the reality of government preparedness, communication strategies, and the challenges of international cooperation in planetary defense. With recent asteroid discoveries underscoring the urgency, the conversation balances science, politics, and the dream of safeguarding Earth.
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More Detections As Capabilities Improve
- Discoveries of potential impactors happen regularly and often resolve with more observations.
- Improved global capabilities are increasing detection rates and giving earlier warnings.
Size, Distance, And Orbital Timing Matter
- Detection range depends on asteroid size and geometry, not just brightness.
- Ground searches improve but must wait for orbital alignment to see objects approach Earth.
DART Gave Us A Real Tool
- DART proved kinetic impact can change an asteroid's motion and is a validated tool.
- Real responses would need asteroid characterization and possibly multiple missions to work.