NASA has made new plans to protect Earth from asteroids

In an effort to save Earth from threatening asteroid collisions, NASA has made few plans for protecting the planet.

NASA, along with several other US federal agencies, has outlined five goals to reduce the risk of impact. Collectively called the ‘Interagency Working Group for Detecting and Mitigating the Impact of Earth-bound Near-Earth Objects’ (DAMIEN), the team released a 20-page document that discusses the asteroid or Near-Earth Object (NEO) plans for the next 10 years.

The plan called ‘The National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan’, shows how the US federal government would protect and prepare Earth for potential future threats.

Watch a ‘fireball’ asteroid racing towards Earth

First goal, as explained by Fortune, is to improve current NEO tracking, detection, and characterization capabilities for increasing the response time the world would have if something came towards the planet.

The second goal is to enhance NEO modeling and prediction. Through this, numerous government agencies will be able to better simulate the impact risks if a comet crashes into the planet. The third goal of NASA’s plan is to develop more technologies for future deflection and disruption missions.

Fourth goal is to ‘increase international coorporation on NEO preparation’, and lastly, the fifth one is to routinely run through NEO impact procedures, along with practicing the action steps with foreign governments. The fifth goal is also for emergency and disaster procedures if a large asteroid hits Earth, wrote Science Alert.

“When implemented, the activities outlined herein will improve detection, research, mission planning, emergency preparedness and response, and domestic and international engagement,” the document read.

NASA believes that implementation of these goals will largely advance the nation’s preparedness for NEO impact within the next decade. “The nation already has significant scientific, technical and operation capabilities that are relevant to asteroid impact prevention.

“Implementing the National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan will greatly increase our nation’s readiness and work with international partners to effectively respond should a new potential asteroid impact be detected,” said NASA planetary defense officer Lindley Johnson.