Thomas D. Jones - Getting to Know the Asteroid in Your Future: Risks and Opportunities from Near-Earth Objects

Summary: We circle the sun amid a swarm of asteroids and comets whose orbits approach or cross Earth’s. Termed Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), these relics of planetary formation pose a considerable long-term impact hazard to our planet. Recent impacts on Jupiter and atmospheric airbursts here, coupled with geologic evidence of the nearly 200 impact scars discovered on Earth, underline the potential for a future impact catastrophe. Our growing detection capabilities and an increase in NASA’s search funding promise explosive growth in the number of known NEOs, from about 7,000 today to more than 100,000 within the decade. Some of these objects will confront us with sufficiently worrisome impact probabilities that we may choose to mount a deflection mission. Deflection technologies are available, but lagging behind are decision-making agreements to enable international response and prompt action. The NEO population also presents the U.S. space effort with an opportunity for future human exploration. Astronaut explorers can reach the most accessible NEOs in round trips of several months. These ancient, intriguing objects offer a scientific bonanza as well as invaluable space resources for economic development of space. These stepping stones to Mars will challenge our abilities and commitment, but exploring them offers us a path to continued leadership in space and the knowledge needed to safeguard our civilization. Thomas D. Jones, PhD is a veteran NASA astronaut, scientist, speaker, author, and consultant. He holds a doctorate in planetary sciences, and in more than eleven years with NASA, flew on four space shuttle missions to Earth orbit. In 2001, Dr. Jones led three spacewalks to install the centerpiece of the International Space Station, the American Destiny laboratory. He has been privileged to spend fifty-three days working and living in space. Tom is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He piloted B-52D strategic bombers, studied asteroids for NASA, engineered intelligence-gathering systems for the CIA, and helped develop advanced mission concepts to explore the solar system prior to joining NASA’s astronaut corps. Tom writes frequently about space exploration and aviation history in magazines such as Air and Space Smithsonian, Aerospace America, and Popular Mechanics. Tom’s book Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir, published in 2006 by Smithsonian Books-Collins, was selected by The Wall Street Journal as one of its “Five Best” books about space. Tom’s newest title, Hell Hawks!, a true story of an aerial band of brothers in WWII, was published by Zenith Press in 2008. Dr. Jones’ awards include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service Award, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Tom is a member of the NASA Advisory Council, serves on the board of the Association of Space Explorers, and is a regular on-air contributor for Fox News Channel’s spaceflight coverage.