Rand Expert Says To Keep Mum About Killer Asteroids

crashnbur writes "NASA is conducting a survey of the sky to find asteroids large enough that a collision with earth could 'extinction-type impact', and none studied so far will threaten us in the next 200 years. Of course, if a doomsday asteroid is discovered, the current policy is not to say a word: 'If you can't do anything about a warning, then there is no point in issuing a warning at all', says Dr. Geoffery Sommer. The issue may be making its rounds because an asteroid was discovered orbiting the sun between Venus and Earth earlier this week. Space.com presents a lengthy, four-part 'Impact Debate' (next three parts coming next three Tuesdays). Apparently we are just as likely to die by asteroid impact as in a plane crash."

Comments

Asteroid 2003 CP20

[barakn]

I doubt that "[t]he issue [of killer asteroid censorship] may be making its rounds because an asteroid was discovered orbiting the sun between Venus and Earth earlier this week." As was made quite clear in the link, this asteroid will remain harmless for the rest of its life, unless aliens strap a nuclear rocket to it, or space-monkeys attach a 1000 km solar sail to it, and heave it out of its low energy orbit.