House Hearing on Asteroid Threats
Private Companies can Play Key Role in Tracking Asteroids
“Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas): “Most troubling to me is the fact that of the up to 20,000 asteroids that could be labeled as ‘city destroyers,’ we have identified only 10 percent. And we are unlikely to have the means to detect 90 percent until 2030.”
Committee Democrats Discuss Need to Detect and Prepare for Near-Earth Objects Smaller Than Currently Mandated
“Witnesses and Democratic Members discussed international dialogue, emergency preparedness, communication with the public, and the need for examining potential mitigation approaches. They also expressed concern about the role private entities play in the detection and mitigation of asteroids.”
– Prepared Statement by Michael A’Hearn
– Prepared Statement by Donald Yeomans
– Prepared Statement by Ed Lu
OBSERVE-TOUCH-EARLY-OFTEN
Would you mind explaining that instead of just repeating it over and over? You seem to be a crusade of one.
Steve, thanks for asking. Number one, I would disagree on the crusade of one; we’re all on the crusade to get a job done well.
These words are not my words, all I did was put them together.
In dealing with a large set of unknowns, it seems to be a logical approach. It is a simple message; when it comes to the NEO/NEA game, in order to get what we need in the way of information, we follow this prescription.
Observe is just that.
Touch is just that.
Early is better than Late.
Often (Many) is better than Few.
This is what I hear when the experts speak about NEOs/NEAs and the key information that is required in moving forward.
There’s more to it of course. We have a group working mission concepts and this is the basis of our approach.
Not looking to go into a sales pitch here. This is not the place.
We should all be striving to understand.
OBSERVE-TOUCH-EARLY-OFTEN
OK. Thanks. A little feedback, for what it’s worth. Unless one is already familiar with what your 4-word message means, it doesn’t say anything (I had to ask, right). Until such a message is more ubiquitous, I would suggest adding a few more words explaining it. Repeat is a strong method, but recognition must come first, and unless I happen to be a slow exception, your message is not self-explanatory.
Steve
Steve, Thanks. I agree with you in that a good segment of folks out there would need a bit more info.
That said, there is a more directed segment of folks out there that should know these words “very well”. As I said, they are not mine. These are the words uttered at many meetings over time with regard to acquiring critical NEO/NEA characterizations and information sets.
Perhaps I’m not using the best venue in keeping the message in view. Fact is, it may be that in our haste to now push forward on this front that this basic message, their basic message, from the experts in the room, is getting lost in the rush.
It’s not that people “need a bit more info”, it’s that mindlessly shouting (ALL CAPS) a four word slogan in nearly every thread on NASAwatch just makes you look retarded.
I suggest you Google it, enclosed in quotes to treat it as a phrase.
Appreciate you guys thinking about this.
Thanks.
Some new words to add to the crusade:
Fear-Greed-Glory