[ExI] (NASA.gov) NASA to chronicle close Earth flyby of asteroid (fwd)

[BillK]

On Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 1:50 PM, Anders Sandberg wrote:
> Nah, this is a too small impactor to be part of spaceguard and the other NEO
> programs (their cut-off is around 140 meters). This size will typically be
> picked up by radar or observations during the final plunge, if they are
> detected at all. As I argue in my commentary
> http://blog.practicalethics.ox.ac.uk/2013/02/live-from-the-shooting-gallery-what-price-impact-safety/
> looking for them is not a bad idea, but it is not a major way of improving
> planetary safety.
>

It depends a bit on how far you extend the implications of such an event.

If it was mistaken for an ICBM from North Korea, then rockets might be
launched in retaliation, and wars started. (It might be a deliberate
mistake if a government wanted an excuse to start a war).

If it was treated as a terrorist explosion, panic reactions could be
almost anything.
Look at the huge losses inflicted on US freedom and the US economy
caused by flying a plane into a skyscraper. (Again, it might be
deliberately mistaken for policy reasons).


BillK