planetary defense
Protecting Earth's orbit
Planetary defense is the detection, tracking, and potential deflection of asteroids, comets, and other celestial objects that could collide with Earth.
The field combines astronomy, spacecraft engineering, and international coordination: NASA's planetary defense program monitors near-Earth objects.
Methods under development include kinetic impactors that nudge threatening bodies off course, as demonstrated by the 2022 DART mission.
- asteroidSun-orbiting rocky mass
- space rockExtraterrestrial geological fragment
- evacuation planningOrganizing safe departure routes
- interceptSeize en route
- meteoroidSmall body in space
early warning systems · kinetic · deflection · DART · comet · debris · radar imaging · impact · space probes · fireball · public awareness campaigns · orbit · nuclear · telescope · crater · dinosaur · NASA · space
planetary defensedefenselessness
State of being unprotected
personal defense · national defense · civil defense · home security · weather forecasting