NASA Reveals Earth's Monitoring And Protection Actions From Giant Asteroid Strikes

JAKARTA Space has millions of objects in it so that Earth is always approached by space objects every day, both asteroids and comets. The presence of this object needs to be known to prevent accidents.

By detecting the presence of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) and calculating the distance to its size, humans can prevent serious hazards, such as the impact that causes the impact crater. Therefore, NASA is actively observing.

At the end of last year, news emerged that the 2024 YR4 asteroid would hit Earth on December 22, 2032 with the highest chance of 3.1 percent. This collision was predicted after scientists discovered NEO and read its flying direction.

This asteroid trajectory also looks worrying so that NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office makes ongoing efforts. One of them is by monitoring YR4 with the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN).

"The orbit analysis center like CNEOS performs more thorough calculations to ensure the possibility of asteroids colliding with Earth. Open data properties allow communities to collaborate and compare, ensuring the most accurate determinations possible," NASA said, quoted from its official blog.

NASA, along with space agencies from various other countries, continues to collect data from NEO observations. In addition to determining future precautions, this data can be used to search for interesting astrophysical phenomena such as supernovae.

When asked how NASA is dealing with asteroids that come to hit Earth, the space agency has prepared several precautions. One of them is an effort to shorten its respiratory trajectory.

About three years ago, NASA launched a Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission to hit the asteroid Dimorphos. After the mission was carried out, the time of orbiting Dimorphos was reduced by 33 minutes.

"The success of NASA's DART mission has proven techniques to consider when dealing with potential asteroid impact threats in the future," the agency said.

In addition, NASA is also working on an observatory called the NEO Surveyor. The spacecraft is specifically designed to search for asteroids and comets that endanger Earth and are planned to launch in the fall of 2027 to collect data.