In this week’s Space Cafè Asteroid Day Special, Dr. Michael Kueppers, Mission Scientist for the Hera Mission at the European Space Agency talked about the hazards caused by asteroid impacts.
Dr. Michael Kueppers discussed the hazards caused by asteroid impacts on earth and how today’s technology may allow us to avoid it. A technology demonstration for asteroid deflection is in preparation with NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) and ESA’s Hera mission. If successful, asteroid impact may be considered the first natural catastrophe that can be avoided by humanity.
This conversation explored the information asteroids and comets hold about the formation and evolution of the solar system, as well as their possible role in the formation of life on earth. He evaluated the perspective of the economic exploitation of asteroids (Asteroid mining).
He also answered relevant questions from the audience.
This Space Cafè Asteroid Day Special, held on 30 June 2020, was hosted by Markus Mooslechner, host of Space Café Podcast, and Director and Executive Producer at Terra Mater Factual Studios. The Space Cafè WebTalk series is SpaceWatch.Global’s innovative webinar platform featuring global space experts.
Want to know more? Dr. Kueppers’ background slides are available at: 200630_SCWT_MichaelKueppers
The complete video can be seen here:
