Response to Risk of Near-Earth Asteroid Impact

Abstract

Near-Earth asteroid (NEA) impacts on the Earth have caused over 10 biological extinction events of different degrees, threatening all human beings in the long term. The prevention of NEA impacts concerns global security and the survival of human civilization and urgently requires extensive research. In this paper, the hazards and risks of NEA impact on the Earth are described, and the significance of active response is discussed. The current international research situation and trend regarding NEA impact risk response were analyzed, involving response procedures, monitoring and early warning, impact hazard assessment, and on-orbit disposal. The basic progress and shortcomings of NEA impact risk response in China are summarized. Based on the above analysis, the development goals and system structure of NEA impact risk response in China are proposed, and the key tasks are summarized and discussed involving monitoring and early warning, on-orbit disposal, disaster rescue, basic research, and international cooperation. Furthermore, we suggest that China should strengthen the top-level design and long-term planning of impact risk response, establish an integrated impact risk response system, develop impact risk response and innovation capabilities, and build a community with a shared future for mankind in the field of planetary defense, thereby creating a planetary defense system that adapts to China’s national conditions and achieves accurate monitoring, reliable warning, effective disposal, and efficient rescue.

Keywords

• near-Earth asteroid, impact hazards, impact risk response, monitoring and early warning, on-orbit disposal, international cooperation