NASA 'planet defense' boss reveals how we'll be warned about asteroid on doomsday
A NASA scientist has revealed how we would really be informed if a deadly asteroid was heading towards Earth.
The expert explained that the process would be much calmer than that sometimes depicted in science fiction films.
Lindsey JohnsonLead Program Executive for the Planetary Defense Coordination Office, explained what would happen in a Business Insider article.
“I don't have a red phone on my desk or anything like that,” says the expert.
“But we do have formal procedures for reporting a serious impact.”
Johnson goes on to explain that, if a deadly asteroid were detected heading our way, NASA would have to inform the White House.
It would then be up to the US government to release an official statement to the public.
It is unclear what this statement would advise.
Before all this happened, NASA is said to have released its findings to the International Asteroid Warning Network.
This is an international group of scientists working together to prevent an asteroid disaster.
If the asteroid were to pose an international threat, it would be this group that notified the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs.
According to Business Insider, there are approximately 153 known asteroids that could cause a catastrophe on Earth.
In fact, NASA has confirmed that it does not suspect a deadly asteroid will hit Earth in the next century.
The American space agency tracks all asteroids that come close to Earth.
If an asteroid comes within 7.65 million kilometers and exceeds a certain size, it is considered potentially dangerous by cautious space agencies.
Some experts are concerned that Earth is not yet ready to defend itself against potentially deadly asteroids.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk once sparked concern by tweeting, “A large rock will eventually hit Earth and we currently have no defenses.”