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The asteroid threat : defending our planet from deadly near-Earth objects

Title
The asteroid threat : defending our planet from deadly near-Earth objects / William E. Burrows.
Author
Burrows, William E., 1937-
Publication
Amherst, New York : Prometheus Books, 2014.

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TextRequest in advance JSD 16-195Offsite

Details

Description
282 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations; 23 cm
Summary
"Presents a realistic, workable plan for defusing a potentially lethal threat from a rogue asteroid or comet. The explosion of a large meteor over Chelyabinsk, Siberia, in February 2013 is just the latest reminder that planet Earth is vulnerable to damaging and potentially catastrophic collisions with space debris of various kinds. In this informative and forward-looking book, veteran aerospace writer William E. Burrows explains what we can do in the future to avoid far more serious impacts from "Near-Earth Objects" (NEOs), as they are called in the planetary defense community. The good news is that humanity is now equipped with the advanced technology necessary to devise a long-term strategy to protect the planet. Burrows outlines the following key features of an effective planetary defense strategy: * A powerful space surveillance system capable of spotting a serious threat from space at least a year in advance * A space craft "nudge" that would throw a collision-course asteroid off target long before it poses the threat of imminent impact * A weapons system to be used as a last-ditch method to blast an NEO should all else fail. The author notes the many benefits for world stability and increasing international cooperation resulting from a united worldwide effort to protect the planet. Combining realism with an optimistic can-do attitude, Burrows shows that humanity is capable of overcoming a potentially calamitous situation"--
Subject
  • Asteroids > Collisions with Earth
  • Comets > Collisions with Earth
  • Natural disasters
  • SCIENCE / Astronomy
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents
Chelyabinsk: Russian roulette -- Chicken Little was right -- Know thine enemy -- The fascination factor -- The other Salvation Army -- The Department of Planetary Defense -- The ultimate Strategic Defense Initiative -- The survival imperative.
Call Number
JSD 16-195
ISBN
  • 9781616149130 (paperback)
  • 1616149132 (paperback)
  • 9781616149147 (ebook) (canceled/invalid)
LCCN
2013051026
OCLC
858660189
Author
Burrows, William E., 1937- author.
Title
The asteroid threat : defending our planet from deadly near-Earth objects / William E. Burrows.
Publisher
Amherst, New York : Prometheus Books, 2014.
Type of Content
text
Type of Medium
unmediated
Type of Carrier
volume
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
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Research Call Number
JSD 16-195
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