The Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) is a planetary defense organization established in January 2016 within NASA’s Planetary Science Division of the Science Mission Directorate.[3] It includes a Near Earth Observations Program which funds telescopic searches and orbit calculations.[4]
Its mission is to look for and catalogue near-Earth objects such as comets, asteroids, and potentially hazardous objects that could impact Earth, as well as help the U.S. government prepare for a potential impact event (and coordinate efforts to mitigate and deflect potential threats if one is detected).[5]
NASA is a signatory to the International Asteroid Warning Network, operated by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.
This is an all-hands-on-deck scenario, and they’ll have the best shot at a counter or mitigation.
Asteroid impact avoidance encompasses the methods by which near-Earth objects (NEO) on a potential collision course with Earth could be diverted, preventing destructive impact events. An impact by a sufficiently large asteroid or other NEOs would cause, depending on its impact location, massive tsunamis or multiple firestorms, and an impact winter caused by the sunlight-blocking effect of large quantities of pulverized rock dust and other debris placed into the stratosphere.
In 2022, NASA spacecraft DART impacted Dimorphos, reducing the minor-planet moon’s orbital period by 32 minutes. This mission constitutes the first successful attempt at asteroid deflection.[15] In 2027, China plans to launch a deflection mission to the near-Earth object 2015 XF261, with the impact estimated to occur in April 2029.[16]
If they don’t already have a system organizing volunteers, go look for a third party doing so. That’ll let some efforts start while they get people looped in.
If humanity dies in six months, it won’t be because I haven’t done everything I can to avoid it.
Personally, I think that in a real shit-is-hitting-the-fan-for-humanity-as-a-whole scenario, the kind of thing where you’d likely see essentially the sum total of humanity’s resources and capabilities directed at one goal, you’d probably see some pretty remarkable things getting done pretty quickly.
Fuck yeah. Shirley, 6 months is enough time and distance to throw shit at the left side nonstop until we alter the course just enough.
Of course, knowing humanly, we’ll probably have different factions arguing about whether to hit the left or right side and wind up just making it bigger.
Wait no I came here to be positive. Let’s fuck that asteroid up!
Volunteer at NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office to help in any way possible.
This is an all-hands-on-deck scenario, and they’ll have the best shot at a counter or mitigation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_impact_avoidance
If they don’t already have a system organizing volunteers, go look for a third party doing so. That’ll let some efforts start while they get people looped in.
If humanity dies in six months, it won’t be because I haven’t done everything I can to avoid it.
Personally, I think that in a real shit-is-hitting-the-fan-for-humanity-as-a-whole scenario, the kind of thing where you’d likely see essentially the sum total of humanity’s resources and capabilities directed at one goal, you’d probably see some pretty remarkable things getting done pretty quickly.
“NASA, I have a gaming PC and the complete collection of The Witcher. How can I help?”
Fuck yeah. Shirley, 6 months is enough time and distance to throw shit at the left side nonstop until we alter the course just enough.
Of course, knowing humanly, we’ll probably have different factions arguing about whether to hit the left or right side and wind up just making it bigger.
Wait no I came here to be positive. Let’s fuck that asteroid up!
Hell yeah we ain’t going down without a fight