Podcast Summary
Former astronaut Rusty Schweickart's new mission: Protecting Earth from asteroid threats: Former astronaut Rusty Schweickart, along with experts Pete Hutt and Clark Chapman, leads the B612 Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to identifying and deflecting asteroids that could cause mass destruction.
Rusty Schweickart, a former Apollo 9 astronaut, is now dedicating his efforts to protecting Earth from potential asteroid threats through the B612 Foundation. Although there are numerous asteroids in space, not all of them pose a threat to humanity. The B612 Foundation, which was founded in 2002, is a private, non-profit organization focused on identifying and deflecting asteroids that could cause mass destruction. The idea for the foundation was born during an Association of Space Explorers meeting where the importance of addressing this issue was emphasized. Schweickart, along with other experts in the field, including astrophysicist Pete Hutt and planetary scientist Clark Chapman, are leading the efforts to ensure our planet's safety. The B612 Foundation's mission underscores the importance of scientific exploration and innovation in addressing potential threats to humanity.
Formation of B612 Foundation for asteroid deflection: Scientists and engineers inspired by potential uses of plasma engine for asteroid deflection form B612 Foundation in 2001 to address growing concern of potential asteroid impacts and need for prevention measures
A group of scientists and engineers, including Franklin Chang-Diaz and Pete Hutt, were inspired by the potential uses of a plasma engine for asteroid deflection after a conversation following a lecture by Chang-Diaz. This led to the formation of the B612 Foundation in 2001, named after the asteroid featured in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince." The group aimed to address the growing concern of potential asteroid impacts and the need for prevention measures. The complexities of asteroid deflection include the need for early detection and the development of effective engines for redirection. The group recognized the importance of collaboration and organization to tackle the issue. It's important to note that the discussion also touched upon the differences between meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites. Meteoroids are the cosmic particles or objects in space, meteors are the visible trails or streaks in the atmosphere, and meteorites are the solid pieces that reach the Earth's surface after falling from space.
Meteors: Natural Phenomena with Potential Consequences: Meteors have been perceived as omens or natural disasters throughout history. Some have caused significant damage, highlighting the need for international cooperation to deflect potentially hazardous asteroids and ensure global safety.
The discovery and understanding of meteors, or falling stars, has a rich history filled with both awe and potential danger. Early civilizations saw these celestial bodies as omens of the end times, but as science advanced, people realized they were not attacks from the heavens but natural phenomena. Some meteors, like the ones that occurred in Cheyabinsk, Russia (2013) and Tunguska, Siberia (1908), have caused significant damage and destruction. The international community must consider the geopolitical implications of deflecting asteroids, as the decision to shift their trajectory from impacting one country to another involves a collective risk. The potential consequences of failing to deflect an asteroid could be catastrophic, making it essential for nations to collaborate and work together to ensure the safety of all.
Factors to consider when deciding which direction to move an asteroid on a border: When dealing with potential asteroid threats, consider factors like cost, time, population integration, and ethical concerns to make a collective decision based on best data
When it comes to dealing with potential asteroid threats to Earth, there are various factors to consider in deciding which direction to move an asteroid if it falls on a border between two countries. These factors can include cost, time, population integration, and even potential enemies. The speaker emphasized the importance of calculating and integrating the populations on each side of the border, not in the sense of people moving or mating, but rather in the mathematical sense of summing up the numbers. The B612 organization, also known as the Sentinel mission, is currently working on cataloging potential asteroid threats and trying to find 90% of those larger than 140 meters. While we have the power to deflect asteroids out of harm's way, there is also the potential for using that power to destroy them intentionally, which raises ethical concerns. The speaker emphasized the importance of considering all these factors and making a collective decision based on the best available data.
The cost and practicality of asteroid deflection: While asteroid impacts pose a threat, the cost of deflecting an asteroid is significant and more practical methods like using missiles for defense are more cost-effective.
The deflection of asteroids is not a dilemma, as the likelihood of using a large asteroid as a weapon is highly unlikely due to the infrequency of asteroids being in the right orbit to hit a specific target. Instead, it's more practical and cost-effective to use missiles for defense. Asteroids do pose a threat, as seen in the extinction of the dinosaurs, but the cost of deflecting an asteroid is significant, with estimates ranging from $1,000,000,000 to $1,000,000,000 for a mission, while the damage caused by a medium-sized asteroid impact could reach $800,000,000,000. Therefore, investing in asteroid deflection is a worthwhile consideration for the potential catastrophic consequences of an impact.
Impact of asteroids on land vs water: Large asteroid impacts on water can cause more damage due to efficient energy transfer and potential tsunamis, while smaller asteroids may cause more damage on land due to energy dilution in the air.
The impact of a large asteroid on Earth, whether it hits land or water, can cause devastating effects that extend far beyond the initial impact point. The energy deposited in water goes much further before it dies out due to the two-dimensional nature of water, making it potentially more destructive than an impact on land for larger asteroids. For instance, the asteroid Apophis, which is about the size of a stadium, is expected to make a close approach to Earth in 2029, providing an opportunity for testing deflection methods without the risk of causing harm. The difference between hitting the ocean and hitting land depends on the size of the asteroid, with larger asteroids causing more damage in water due to the efficient energy transfer into the water and the potential for tsunamis. However, for smaller asteroids, hitting land may be more destructive due to the energy diluting into a three-dimensional volume in the air. Overall, the potential consequences of an asteroid impact on global climate, transportation chains, and communication outlets highlight the importance of continued research and development of asteroid deflection technologies.
Predicting Asteroid Impacts: Climate Change and Ecosystems: Understanding asteroid impacts on climate and ecosystems requires accurate predictions, which can be challenging due to uncertainty in trajectories. Solutions include using transponders for more precise location data.
Accurately predicting the path of asteroids and assessing their potential impact on Earth is a complex challenge. Movies like "Deep Impact" and "Armageddon" provide interesting perspectives on this issue, with the former depicting an asteroid hitting the ocean and causing a tsunami, while the latter shows humans drilling into an asteroid to prevent a catastrophic collision. The research involved in understanding the consequences of an asteroid hit requires considering the effects on climate change and the interconnectedness of ecosystems. The accuracy of these predictions is crucial for determining the best course of action, but it can be challenging to make accurate predictions due to the uncertainty in asteroid trajectories. One solution proposed is the use of transponders on asteroids to provide more accurate information about their location. The Chelyabinsk asteroid explosion, which was caused by an asteroid about 17 meters across, highlights the importance of this issue and the need for continued research and advancements in asteroid detection and prediction technology.
Dangerous Asteroids: Metallic Cores and Planetary Remnants: Metallic asteroids pose a greater threat due to their density and ability to penetrate Earth's atmosphere. Prepare for potential asteroid impacts as a large natural disaster, implementing mitigation measures.
Asteroids come in various forms, with metallic asteroids being particularly dense and more dangerous due to their ability to completely penetrate the Earth's atmosphere. The scariest form of asteroid is believed to be the core of an unformed planet. If such an asteroid were to collide with Earth, the damage would be catastrophic and potentially unstoppable. The explosion of an asteroid at a high altitude, like the one that occurred in Chelyabinsk, Russia, can cause significant damage through an air blast, but the energy is diluted before it reaches the ground, reducing the number of casualties. Metallic asteroids, which survive well in the atmosphere, are the largest surviving meteors on Earth. When it comes to asteroid impacts, the strategy is to treat them like any other large natural disaster, preparing for the potential damage and implementing mitigation measures.
Understanding the Significance of Asteroid Detection and Tracking: Only a small percentage of large asteroids have been identified, and their close approaches to Earth can be difficult to track. The potential impact of an asteroid is catastrophic, making accurate detection and tracking crucial.
Asteroid impacts pose a significant threat to Earth, but our current ability to detect and track these objects is limited. Rusty Schweickart, a former NASA astronaut and co-founder of the B612 Foundation, discussed the importance of identifying and monitoring asteroids due to their potential destructive energy. Only a small percentage of asteroids larger than 40 meters have been identified, and even those that come close to Earth can be difficult to track once they move out of range. Asteroids follow their own orbits around the sun, and many cross Earth's orbit when we're not looking. Some asteroids come closer to Earth than the moon, and these "close approaches" can happen a few times a year. The potential impact of an asteroid could be catastrophic, making accurate detection and tracking crucial. Despite our current limitations, advancements in technology and increased awareness of the issue offer hope for improving our ability to protect against asteroid impacts.
Deflecting larger asteroids requires proactive measures, but finding and intervening is complex: Early detection and intervention for larger asteroids is crucial to minimize potential damage, but finding and deflecting them is complex with economic, technical, and geopolitical considerations. Disaster recovery plans are essential for smaller impacts.
While smaller asteroid impacts are similar to other natural disasters, requiring disaster recovery plans, larger impacts that could destroy cities or even mankind require more proactive measures like deflection. However, finding and deflecting these larger asteroids is a complex issue with economic, technical, and geopolitical considerations. The threshold for intervention needs to be defined geopolitically. Unfortunately, most asteroid impacts go unnoticed until they're too close to do anything about, making disaster recovery plans essential. The Chelyabinsk asteroid, about 17 meters across, was too late to deflect once it entered our atmosphere. Smaller asteroids travel fast and breaking them into pieces only increases the number of impact zones and the energy released. The energy of an asteroid impact is a significant factor, even if it's broken into many pieces. Therefore, it's crucial to invest in early detection and intervention for larger asteroids to minimize potential damage.
Addressing asteroid threats: A collective effort: Scientists recommend developing a deflection mission for real-time monitoring and adjustment, while clear accountability and responsibility for addressing this cosmic hazard is needed. NASA should lead this effort, but the cost is often overestimated, making it a worthy investment for public safety.
Addressing the threat of asteroid impacts requires careful consideration and collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and the public. The challenges are complex, from determining the identity and trajectory of potential threats to developing effective deflection methods. While some propose drastic measures like blowing up an asteroid or using nuclear weapons, these methods come with significant risks and uncertainties. Instead, scientists recommend developing a deflection mission that allows for real-time monitoring and adjustment. Additionally, there's a need for clear accountability and responsibility for addressing this cosmic hazard, as the potential impact on different countries could have significant geopolitical implications. Lastly, the cost of addressing asteroid threats is often overestimated, making it a worthy investment for public safety. NASA, currently responsible for space science and exploration, should be given the mandate to lead this effort, but this has yet to be accomplished. Overall, the urgency of this issue is becoming increasingly clear, and addressing it requires a collective effort from all stakeholders.
Asteroids: A Threat to Earth's Survival: Asteroid impacts can significantly affect Earth's environment and even threaten human survival. Russia, due to its size, is disproportionately affected. We must invest in research and technologies to mitigate their impact as we continue to explore the cosmos.
Asteroids, being massive celestial bodies, have the potential to significantly impact our planet's environment, even threatening our species' survival. This is due to their immense gravitational force, which can cause catastrophic events when they collide with Earth. Russia, with its vast expanses of land, seems to be disproportionately affected due to its size. Yuuji's analogy of Russia being an "ocean of land" highlights this vulnerability. As we continue to explore the cosmos and expand our presence, it's crucial to remain aware of the potential hazards asteroids pose and invest in research and technologies to mitigate their impact. In the end, the frontier of our species' survival lies in understanding and adapting to the forces of the universe. Thanks for tuning into StarTalk, where we keep looking up and exploring the wonders of the cosmos. And remember, as Neil deGrasse Tyson, your personal astrophysicist, always says, "Keep looking up!"
