In a recent presentation at the Planetary Defense Conference hosted by the International Academy of Astronautics, NASA’s Chief Jim Bridenstine drew attention to several very concerning pieces of information.
The Earth is about to face it’s biggest threat from outer space. Yes, our planet is officially under threat of a meteor strike and it isn’t all that far away.
We see asteroids as distant bursts of light and colour but seldom acknowledge the space particles’ capacity for destruction. This time around, it looks like we really need to understand it doesn’t work like a sci-fi film’s portrayal.
“This is about ultimately protecting the only planet we know right now to host life, and that is the planet Earth.” – Jim Bridenstine
During the Planetary Defense Conference in Washington D.C., NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine put out information on the next meteor strike. NASA’s current studies revolve around tracking meteor movement which reveal that our planet will be hit by a meteor within 60 years. They are however, working on a solution.
And it isn’t all that hard to imagine.
Nine years ago (February 15, 2013) Russia’s village Chelyabinsk witnessed a sonic boom, the loudest flash as an asteroid caused ripples on entering the atmosphere. It sent shockwaves, releasing energy up to 440,000 tonnes of TNT. Damage to life and property was massive.
“It was brighter in the sky than the sun at that point when it entered Earth’s atmosphere. And people could feel the heat from this object from 62 kilometres away… When it finally exploded 18 miles above the surface…it had…30 times the energy of the atomic bomb at Hiroshima… It damaged buildings in six cities.” – Jim Bridenstine