Looking at the situation objectively, we will either destroy ourselves, or incidentally gain rocket technology capable of destroying an asteroid long before an

Looking at the situation objectively, we will either destroy ourselves, or incidentally gain rocket technology capable of destroying an asteroid long before an extinction-level event occurs. There is no reason to make asteroid deflection a priority. There are far more pressing threats to the human race. Mostly the human race itself - and the humanities are the best defense against humans.