From Detection to Deflection: Evaluating NASA’s Planetary Defense Strategy

House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics

2025-05-15

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This meeting of the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics focused on evaluating NASA's Planetary Defense Strategy, covering current efforts in detecting and deflecting Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), technological advancements, and significant concerns regarding proposed budget cuts to science agencies. The discussion highlighted the critical importance of planetary defense for global safety and the need for sustained investment and international collaboration in this area.

Themes

Importance of Planetary Defense

Planetary defense is a crucial, though not always high-profile, NASA mission, driven by public concern over potential asteroid impacts and reflected in popular culture scenarios [ 00:17:03 ]

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[ 00:17:18-00:17:51 ]

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. Historical events, such as the 2024 YR4 asteroid scare, the 2004 Apophis discovery, and the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor explosion, underscore the real, albeit infrequent, threat posed by NEOs [ 00:18:04-00:18:47 ]

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. It is a natural disaster that is entirely preventable with sufficient advance detection and action . The issue transcends national boundaries, emphasizing the need for global cooperation .

NEO Detection and Tracking

The 2005 NASA Authorization Act mandated NASA to detect, track, and catalog 90% of NEOs larger than 140 meters by 2020 [ 00:19:10 ]

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. However, as of last September, only 44% of these estimated NEOs have been identified [ 00:19:36 ]

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. The NEO Surveyor mission, set to launch by 2028 and potentially earlier, is the first spacecraft built specifically for NEO detection, using infrared detectors to find objects difficult to see with traditional methods [ 00:19:46-00:20:13 ]

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. The Minor Planet Center (MPC) serves as the international authority for collecting, processing, and disseminating observational data on small solar system bodies, tracking 38,000 known NEOs . This early detection is critical as it allows for mitigation efforts . NASA-funded telescopes are responsible for 96% of all NEO discoveries . Future missions, like NEO Surveyor and the Vera Rubin Observatory, are expected to generate significantly more data, necessitating advancements in the MPC's systems to handle the increased volume efficiently .

NEO Deflection and Mitigation

NASA successfully demonstrated asteroid deflection with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in 2022, which altered an asteroid's orbit through kinetic impact [ 00:20:24-00:20:39 ]

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. This proved that human intervention could prevent an asteroid impact with sufficient warning time . The longer the lead time, the easier it is to implement deflection techniques, with kinetic impactors being one of the more straightforward methods . The OSIRIS-APEX mission, an extension of OSIRIS-REx, will study the Apophis asteroid during its close Earth flyby in 2029, gathering valuable data on how it behaves under gravitational stress [ 01:00:20-01:00:34 ]

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Budget and Policy Concerns

Significant concerns were raised about the Trump administration's proposed FY26 "skinny budget," which suggests substantial cuts to NASA's Science Mission Directorate (47%) and other science agencies like NSF (55%) and the Department of State (47%) . Members warned that these cuts could undermine U.S. leadership in space, cripple NASA's capabilities, jeopardize national security, and result in job losses and a "brain drain" of scientific talent . Specific concerns included the cancellation of a NASA support contract for the U.S. Global Change Research Program and delays in the ROSES research grant solicitation due to budget uncertainty . There were also questions about the potential loss of scientific integrity and data archives . Members stressed the importance of continued bipartisan support to ensure a strong and stable future for NASA and the broader scientific enterprise [ 00:20:49 ]

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Role of AI and Technology

AI and machine learning are seen as critical tools for enhancing NEO detection and data processing. The Minor Planet Center is developing AI techniques to rapidly and accurately identify NEOs within the vast data streams it receives, including future data from NEO Surveyor . These technologies will assist scientists in discerning legitimate asteroid detections from background noise . Space-based observatories like NEO Surveyor, equipped with infrared sensors, offer advantages over ground-based systems by being able to detect objects closer to the sun and those that are optically dark, while also accurately measuring their size . Adequate funding and high-performance computing facilities are essential to fully leverage AI in planetary defense [ 00:58:01-00:58:05 ]

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Tone of the Meeting

The tone of the meeting was largely concerned and urgent, especially regarding the existential threat of asteroid impacts and the potential negative effects of proposed budget cuts on scientific capabilities and U.S. leadership . There was a strong sense of appreciation and collaboration for the bipartisan support of planetary defense efforts and the international cooperation involved [ 00:20:49 ]

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. Speakers maintained an informative demeanor, providing detailed explanations of NASA's missions and processes . Underlying the discussions was a determined commitment to safeguarding the planet and maintaining U.S. leadership in space exploration and defense .

Participants

Transcript

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Good morning.  The Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics will come to order.  Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare recess of the subcommittee at any time.  Welcome to today's hearing, From Detection to Deflection, Evaluating NASA's Planetary Defense Strategy.  I recognize myself now for five minutes for an opening statement.   First, I want to welcome everyone to the subcommittee hearing this morning.  Thank you for joining us.  This is a hearing focused on a very important topic, NASA's role in planetary defense and the detection of near-Earth objects, commonly known as NEOs.  While not as high profile as other NASA missions, the Planetary Defense is one of the most important research centers that basically this was the highest priority of American citizens.  The fear that is somehow, someway our planet could be   under duress due to asteroids or other objects that could hit the Earth.  And in fact, a lot of the popular movies have been based on it, whether it be Armageddon, Deep Impact, of course, my favorite from 1980s, The Barbarian.  So these are all risks that we face in a very serious way.  And of course, the last couple of years, this has come to our attention with the   NASA-funded ground-based telescopes discovered that there was a near-Earth asteroid that was designated as 2024 YR, and initial estimates had it as high as a 3% chance of striking the Earth.  Fortunately, subsequent observations and analysis have lowered that impact to less than 1,100th of 1%, but this is still a legitimate concern, and that's why we're here today.   This isn't the first time we've made a discovery like this.  Back in 2004, NASA identified an asteroid named Apophis and found that it was within roughly 20,000 miles of Earth in 2029, less than one-tenth of one   within one-tenth of the distance to the moon.  This process highlights NASA's critical role in planetary defense.
The 2005 NASA Authorization Act directed NASA to detect, track, catalog, characterize the physical characteristics of an estimated 90% of NEOs by 2020.   While NASA has made progress toward this objective, much work remains.  As of last September, NASA estimated it had only identified 44% of the estimated population of NEOs larger than 140 meters, less than half of its goal, but help is on the way.  The NEO survey mission   The first spacecraft explicitly built to detect near-Earth asteroids and comets is scheduled to launch by 2028.  NEO's survey offers an important capability as it uses infrared detectors to detract   objects that would otherwise be difficult to find due to the glare of sunlight.  I look forward to learning more about this key mission during today's hearing.  However, NASA's efforts to extend beyond detection and identify NEOs.  In 2021, NASA launched the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, also known as DART, a mission to research two asteroids that would fly in Earth's vicinity.  Nearly 10 months later, DART successfully impacted the smaller asteroid, altering its orbit   around the large one and providing key data.  This mission demonstrated the feasibility of redirecting a NEO and proved out many technologies that could be pivotal in future initiatives.  NASA's work in planetary defense has long enjoyed bipartisan support on the SST committee, and I'm optimistic that this will continue.   I'm eager to hear updates on NASA's progress towards achieving this congressionally mandated mission.  I also welcome the opportunity to hear about development of NEO Surveyor and the ongoing work of the Minor Planet Center in cataloging these objects.  Thank you to each of the witnesses for being here today, and we look forward to a very productive discussion.  And before we move on, I'd like to request unanimous consent to submit a letter   from the Planetary Society for the Record.
Without objection, so ordered.  And with that, of course, I want to recognize our outstanding ranking member, the representative from North Carolina for her opening statement.  And you'll recognize Ms.  Bushi.
Good morning, and thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding today's hearing.  I want to extend a warm welcome to our expert witnesses.  Thank you all for being here.  Under most circumstances, this hearing would be a natural continuation of the Committee's periodic review and oversight of NASA's near-Earth object and planetary defense activities, activities that Congress led by this Committee directed in law.   Near-Earth objects, or NEOs, pose real, though infrequent, threats.

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