4 ms·

Most of the large (more than a few hundred meters) potentially hazardous asteroids are thought to have been found. However, there are some locations (relative t

Most of the large (more than a few hundred meters) potentially hazardous asteroids are thought to have been found. However, there are some locations (relative to Earth's orbit) that are difficult to view from the ground, because you can only observe them at twilight. The best way to find those last remaining potentially hazardous asteroids would be to launch a space telescope to the Earth-Sun Lagrange Point 1. In the grand scheme of things, this type of mission wouldn't cost that much, but so far, nobody has made the decision that making sure Earth doesn't get hit by an asteroid is worth an investment of a few hundred million dollars.

elil17 3y ago
> nobody has made the decision that making sure Earth doesn't get hit by an asteroid is worth an investment of a few hundred million dollars. This is not true. NASA spent over $300 million to test DART, an anti-astroid planetary defense system.
- DiogenesKynikos 3y ago
  And yet, a straightforward mission that would identify all remaining potentially hazardous asteroids hasn't gone forward. DART is great, but it's useless if you don't see the asteroid coming long in advance.
dotancohen 3y ago
It seems that Starship well greatly upend these calculations and considerations. When launching 100 tons of payload costs $10 million, we should start seeing a lot more science being launched.
- DiogenesKynikos 3y ago
  We really just need one telescope at L1. That's all.
jameshart 3y ago
With ‘large potentially hazardous asteroids’, thinking we have found most of them doesn’t really seem that reassuring. Like the mayor giving a press conference in front of the zoo saying “Most of the large, maneating lions are thought to have been located”.
Ankaios 3y ago
In the grand scheme of things, this type of mission wouldn't cost that much, but so far, nobody has made the decision that making sure Earth doesn't get hit by an asteroid is worth an investment of a few hundred million dollars. Late last year, NASA approved development of NEO Surveyor, an infrared telescope that will search for near-Earth objects from Sun-Earth L1. NASA estimates that it will launch in 2028 and cost $1.2 billion. https://spacenews.com/nasa-confirms-neo-surveyor-for-2028-launch/ https://spacenews.com/nasa-confirms-neo-surveyor-for-2028-la...

elil17 3y ago

> nobody has made the decision that making sure Earth doesn't get hit by an asteroid is worth an investment of a few hundred million dollars. This is not true. NASA spent over $300 million to test DART, an anti-astroid planetary defense system.

DiogenesKynikos 3y ago
And yet, a straightforward mission that would identify all remaining potentially hazardous asteroids hasn't gone forward. DART is great, but it's useless if you don't see the asteroid coming long in advance.

dotancohen 3y ago

It seems that Starship well greatly upend these calculations and considerations. When launching 100 tons of payload costs $10 million, we should start seeing a lot more science being launched.

DiogenesKynikos 3y ago
We really just need one telescope at L1. That's all.

jameshart 3y ago

With ‘large potentially hazardous asteroids’, thinking we have found most of them doesn’t really seem that reassuring. Like the mayor giving a press conference in front of the zoo saying “Most of the large, maneating lions are thought to have been located”.

Ankaios 3y ago

In the grand scheme of things, this type of mission wouldn't cost that much, but so far, nobody has made the decision that making sure Earth doesn't get hit by an asteroid is worth an investment of a few hundred million dollars. Late last year, NASA approved development of NEO Surveyor, an infrared telescope that will search for near-Earth objects from Sun-Earth L1. NASA estimates that it will launch in 2028 and cost $1.2 billion. https://spacenews.com/nasa-confirms-neo-surveyor-for-2028-launch/ https://spacenews.com/nasa-confirms-neo-surveyor-for-2028-la...