Defending Our Planet Against Impact Events
National Near Earth Object Preparedness Plan Released
“A new multiagency report outlines how the U.S. could become better prepared for near-Earth objects — asteroids and comets whose orbits come within 30 million miles of Earth — otherwise known as NEOs. While no known NEOs currently pose significant risks of impact, the report is a key step to addressing a nationwide response to any future risks. NASA, along with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and several other governmental agencies collaborated on this federal planning document for NEOs.”
When I was on the American Society of Civil Engineers NEO Impact Mitigation Subcommittee in the 1990’s it was determined that local and even regional impacts could be much more survivable if there was planning and preparation on the part of authorities. It is good this is finally be considered and plan being made for it.
BTW Planetary Defense could be one of the missions of the Space Force, just as flood protection is one of the domestic missions of the U.S. Army and specifically the Army Corps of Engineers.
But do you really want a military branch doing this? The entire purpose of a military throughout human history is to kill other humans, otherwise its a police force or some other organization. This blurring of lines is inefficient, and ultimately a waste of time and money. And I am sure all the planetary scientist do not want to be under the thumb of a military organization to dictate planetary protection and ultimately any constraints to human expansion off Earth. Oh, and the control of the natural flow of the Mississippi river (Corps of Engineers) without concurrent control of urban land use and sprawl and greedy land use without regards to natural disaster potential has not gone so well, has it?
The military seems to do well with air/sea rescue as disaster relief. Both will be needed if there is an impact event. Also the most effective military has always been the one that is able to prevent war, just talk to folks actually in the military. SAC was a huge success in those terms.
As for Urban land use, that is what happens when you leave local governments in charge of something. The Corps of Engineers is limited to just trying to control the river, they don’t have control over land use. If they did, I expect things would be much different.
In terms of planetary scientists being under the “thumb” of the military, why don’t you check with all the oceanographers who work for the US Navy. They don’t seem to think its so bad a work environment.
https://www.onr.navy.mil/en…
And let’s not forget the astronomers at the Naval Observatory
http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO
Or those planetary scientists already working with the USAF on planetary protection.
https://www.ll.mit.edu/miss…
Finally, an article from Lt Col Peter Garrestson on how the USAF could have a role in planetary protection.
http://www.au.af.mil/au/afr…
In general, I think it’s important to note the difference between scientists working “with” and working “for” the military. That may sound like a detail, but it does involve things like being part of the military chain of command, subject to the UCMJ, etc. Civilian scientists interacting with the military work “with” the military, and there are active duty or reserve military personnel who are scientists.
Yes, there’s a difference between those in the service and those that are civilian employees. I imagine that the Space Force, like the other branches will have both.
I’d concur that the Corps of Engineers has a questionable home in the US Army. But I would also say, having dealt with Corps permits dozens of times of=ver the years, with the Corps you know what you are going to get, and when.
As to the Old River Control Structure that keeps Baton Rouge wet and the Atchafalaya from tearing hell out of existing infrastructure: it’s a project far too big for a sate, particularly Louisiana, to manage.
On your land use comment: hear, hear!
(For those who don’t know: the Atchafalaya offers a better way to the Gulf, when viewed from the POV of the Mississippi River).
I’m curious if anyone knows a certain statistic.
How many National Guard units (or troops) have been called up for disaster relief in the past 10 years (or past 20, if you like.) How does that compare to the number called up for service in wars? I believe Guard units served in Iraq and Afghanistan, but I have the impression they are deployed more frequently for disaster relief (or prevention, in the case of some floods.)
I would absolutely want the military to do this. In a disaster you need a decisive chain of command. You want a large organization that can mobilize quickly. You need vigilant monitoring of space like NORAD has done for decades. The US military with its air and sea lift capabilities can get resources into disaster areas faster than anyone in most cases. They have done so with numerous natural disasters around the world.
If you look at what went wrong with Katrina in New Orleans, look at the local government and their diversion of resources and incompetence beforehand. If you read the reports, poor decisions and less than ethical behavior by local officials contributed a lot. The Army Corp has done a pretty good job for much of the country.
I get it that you think the military is evil and only wants to kill people. My family members and friends who have served have never been like that. Most never fired a shot in anger and were proud of their service. Deterring aggression is what a good military does and is their first mission. I think ours has done that job magnificently. Thomas Jefferson was right when he said that if you want peace prepare for war. He understood the basic nature of people and the world we faced then and now. I’m damned proud of our military. They’re not perfect, but their mission to defend us starts with deterrence. It does not start with a desire to kill.
So, will this come under the purview of our illustrious “space force” as yet to be assembled?
I think writers are confusing planetary defense and planetary protection. Planetary protection has been used for decades to refer to avoiding biological cross-contamination.
Yes, I corrected it.