In what can only be confirmation of the increased risk that asteroids are posing to Earth, NASA has officially formalized its program designed to detect and track Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) as the Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO). The office, which will be a part of NASA's Planetary Science Division, will oversee all NASA-funded projects that are designed to detect and analyze asteroids and comets that come close to the Earth's orbit around the sun, as well as spearhead inter-agency and intergovernmental efforts to protect the Earth from any threats stemming from these objects.
"Asteroid detection, tracking and defense of our planet is something that NASA, its inter-agency partners, and the global community take very seriously," John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said in a press release. "While there are no known impact threats at this time, the 2013 Chelyabinsk super-fireball and the recent 'Halloween Asteroid' close approach remind us of why we need to remain vigilant and keep our eyes to the sky."
To date, more than 13,500 near-Earth objects spanning a wide range of sizes have been discovered, and approximately 1,500 NEOs are discovered each year.
One of the office's objectives will be to create new technologies that can effectively deflect or redirect asteroids that are on their way to colliding with Earth, according to the Daily Express.
"The formal establishment of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office makes it evident that the agency is committed to perform a leadership role in national and international efforts for detection of these natural impact hazards, and to be engaged in planning if there is a need for planetary defense," said Lindley Johnson, lead program executive for the PCDO.
One recent incident that raised concerns took place in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk in 2013, when a meteor entered the Earth's atmosphere and exploded in mid-air, causing damage to nearby buildings and trees.
