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NASA: 15K 'City-Killer' Asteroids Near Earth Unaccounted For
NASA has detected only 40% of mid-sized asteroids larger than 140 meters and plans an infrared space telescope to improve detection and planetary defense.
- On Feb. 16, NASA acting Planetary Defense Officer Kelly Fast warned that roughly 15,000 near-Earth objects measuring at least 140 metres remain undiscovered, with only 40% of the detection goal reached.
- Many near-Earth asteroids orbit inside Earth's path and hide in the Sun's glare, while dark, carbon-rich asteroids reflect little sunlight, limiting ground-based observatories to short twilight windows.
- A 140-metre strike carries impact energy roughly 300 million tons of TNT, while Asteroid YR4 passed on December 25, 2024 and was seen a week later, briefly raising a 4% collision risk for 2032.
- NASA warned Earth cannot defend itself against mid-sized rocks about 140 metres in diameter, with experts saying DART remains a one-off demonstration lacking immediate launch options or sustained investment, Kelly Fast said.
- The Near-Earth Object Surveyor mission is expected to launch next year with infrared detection capability to find bright and dark asteroids and help NASA track more than 90% of NEOs ≥140m.
29 Articles
29 Articles
They are small enough to escape detection. But big enough to cause enormous devastation on Earth. “It keeps me awake at night,” says NASA expert Kelly Fast.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) issued a strong warning: the Earth lacks active defenses against some 15,000 medium-sized asteroids, capable of destroying cities, which remain unidentified. This revelation generated terror in various parts of the world, but is already working on detention programs, such as the Near-Earth Object Surveyor mission. It was Dr. Kelly Fast, NASA’s Interim Planetary Defense Officer, who during …
The space agency has admitted that Earth has no way to defend itself against these massive space rocks.
NASA scientist warns there’s no way to stop thousands of city-killing asteroids from striking Earth: ‘It keeps me up at night’
Planetary defense expert Kelly Fast is warning that humanity is defenseless against up to 15,000 undetected, near Earth asteroids that have the potential to take out a city.
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