Placeholder text

Go to cart

Defending Planet Earth

By National Research Council

Defending Planet Earth

0 - Default Title
Description
"The United States spends approximately $4 million each year searching for near-Earth objects (NEOs). The objective is to detect those that may collide with Earth. The majority of this funding supports the operation of several observatories that scan the sky searching for NEOs. This, however, is insufficient in detecting the majority of NEOs that may present a tangible threat to humanity. A significantly smaller amount of funding supports ways to protect the Earth from such a potential collision or "mitigation." In 2005, a Congressional mandate called for NASA to detect 90 percent of NEOs with diameters of 140 meters of greater by 2020. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies identifies the need for detection of objects as small as 30 to 50 meters as these can be highly destructive. The book explores four main types of mitigation including civil defense, "slow push" or "pull" methods, kinetic impactors and nuclear explosions. It also asserts that responding effectively to hazards posed by NEOs requires national and international cooperation. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies is a useful guide for scientists, astronomers, policy makers and engineers."--Publisher's description.
Product details
Binding:
Paperback
Edition:
illustrated
Number of Pages:
152
Release Date:
2010-07-21
Publication Date:
2010-07-21
Publisher:
National Academies Press
Languages:
Original: English
ISBN10:
0309149681
ISBN13:
9780309149686
Weight:
590 g
Height:
213 cm
Width:
277 cm
Thickness:
10 cm
Currently sold out