Short Wave A Mission To Redirect An Asteroid
Nov 22, 2021
Nell Greenfieldboyce, an NPR science correspondent and expert in space exploration, discusses NASA's groundbreaking DART mission aimed at redirecting asteroids. She explains how this mission could protect Earth from potential asteroid threats in the future. Greenfieldboyce highlights the innovative strategies, including a high-speed collision with the asteroid Dimorphos, to test our capability to alter its trajectory. The conversation delves into the collaboration with agencies like FEMA and the importance of tracking smaller asteroids that could impact populated areas.
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Hollywood's Asteroid Solutions
- Movies like "Armageddon", "Deep Impact", and "Meteor" showcase asteroid threats.
- They often depict nukes as the solution, which experts deem messy and potentially ineffective.
DART: A Real-World Test
- NASA's DART mission is the first real-world attempt to change an asteroid's movement.
- This is a significant departure from the common movie trope of asteroid destruction.
Planetary Defense is Real
- NASA established a Planetary Defense Coordination Office in 2016 to address asteroid threats.
- This office focuses on detection, tracking, and deflection strategies, even involving FEMA in disaster planning.