PLANETARY DEFENSE AGAINST, ASTEROID STRIKES: RISKS, OPTIONS, AND COSTS
NEO_Defense: The potentially severe consequences of an impact by a near Earth object (NEO) require proactive planning. This paper addresses a hypothetical asteroid impact and options for launching a mission to deflect or destroy it. The decision to launch such a mission must consider not only the nature of the threat and the odds of success, but the possibility of inadvertently shifting risk from one location to another. Decisions made today regarding mitigation capability can considerably reduce the future NEO hazard and help ensure national and international safety
