Defining Planetary Defense

Planetary defense represents a branch of astronomy and space technology dedicated to preventing potential astronomical objects, such as asteroids and comets, from impacting Earth. Its principal focus lies in the detection, monitoring, and characterization of near-Earth objects (NEOs) that could potentially pose a collision risk. By identifying these threats early, humanity stands a better chance at either deflecting these objects or mitigating the damage caused by an impact.

The Significance of Planetary Defense

The Threat of Near-Earth Objects

The importance of planetary defense becomes evident when one examines the potential dangers posed by NEOs. Even a relatively small asteroid, one measuring only a few hundred meters in diameter, could cause considerable destruction upon impact. Large-scale impacts have the potential to cause mass extinctions, as was the case with the asteroid believed to have led to the demise of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago.

Though major impacts are rare, smaller but still destructive impacts occur more frequently.