COUNTERMEASURES TO AVOID ASTEROID AND COMET NUCLEUS IMPACTS ON EARTH: A SUMMARY OF PROGRESS

摘要

We report on political realizations, technical and scientific progress, and international participation in countering Potentially Hazardous Objects that have the potential of colliding with Earth and inflicting enormous damage. We cover the areas of the most frequent, small (i.e., Tunguska-sized objects) as well as the most dangerous objects, the long-period comets that are usually ignored.