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Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Letter of Request." National Research Council. 2010. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth-Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12842.
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B
Letter of Request

2 June 2008

Dr. Lennard A. Fisk

Chair,

Space Studies Board

National Research Council

Dear Dr. Fisk:

The legislative report accompanying the fiscal year 2008 omnibus appropriations bill for NASA established a requirement for the National Research Council (NRC) to undertake a two-phase study to review recent reports on near Earth object (NEO) detection and deflection and other relevant documentation, and to develop recommendations on optimal approaches to surveying the NEO population and to developing a deflection capability:

In order to assist Congress in determining the optimal approach regarding the Arecibo Observatory, NASA shall contract with the National Research Council to study the issue and make recommendations. As part of its deliberations, the NRC shall review NASA’s report 2006 Near-Earth Object Survey and Deflection Study and its associated March 2007 Near-Earth Object Survey and Deflection Study as well as any other relevant literature. An interim report, with recommendations focusing primarily on the optimal approach to the survey program, shall be submitted within 15 months of enactment of this Act. The final report including recommendations regarding the optimal approach to developing a deflection capability, shall be submitted with 21 months of enactment of this Act. The NRC study shall include an assessment of the costs of various alternatives, including options that may blend the use of different facilities (whether ground- or space-based), or involve international cooperation. Independent cost estimating should be utilized.

In accordance with this Congressional direction, we would like the NRC’s Space Studies Board (SSB) to conduct the required analysis and prepare the required two-phase report. Terms of reference for the study activity are provided in the enclosed Statement of Task. An initial report providing findings and recommendations for the first task should be submitted no later than September 30, 2009. A second report describing the final findings and recommendations of both tasks should be submitted no later than December 31, 2009.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Letter of Request." National Research Council. 2010. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth-Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12842.
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We would like to request that the NRC submit a plan to NASA for execution of the study described herein on this schedule. Once agreement with the NRC on the scope and cost for the proposed study has been achieved, the NASA Contracting Officer will issue a task order for implementation. Mr. Lindley Johnson will be the technical point of contact for this effort, and may be reached at (202) XXX-XXXX or lindley.johnson@XXXX.

Sincerely,

James L. Green,

Director

Planetary Science Division, NASA

Craig Foltz,

Acting Director

Astronomical Science Division, NASA

Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Letter of Request." National Research Council. 2010. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth-Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12842.
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Page 113
Suggested Citation:"Appendix B: Letter of Request." National Research Council. 2010. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth-Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/12842.
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Page 114
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Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth-Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies Get This Book
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The United States spends approximately $4 million each year searching for near-Earth objects (NEOs). The objective is to detect those that may collide with Earth. The majority of this funding supports the operation of several observatories that scan the sky searching for NEOs. This, however, is insufficient in detecting the majority of NEOs that may present a tangible threat to humanity. A significantly smaller amount of funding supports ways to protect the Earth from such a potential collision or "mitigation."

In 2005, a Congressional mandate called for NASA to detect 90 percent of NEOs with diameters of 140 meters of greater by 2020. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies identifies the need for detection of objects as small as 30 to 50 meters as these can be highly destructive. The book explores four main types of mitigation including civil defense, "slow push" or "pull" methods, kinetic impactors and nuclear explosions. It also asserts that responding effectively to hazards posed by NEOs requires national and international cooperation. Defending Planet Earth: Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies is a useful guide for scientists, astronomers, policy makers and engineers.

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