From Asteroid Mining To Space Rustling – What Do We Do When An Asteroid Threatens Earth?
A new Swinburne research paper delves into the ethical, legal and social issues involved in asteroid mining and planetary defence. It highlights the need for a framework or governing body to be established to protect civilisation.
Now, this is’nt a new issue but one that continues to plague the world, with no clear mandates for who should act in the interest of protecting the planet and our lives, says lead author Swinburne bioethicist expert Dr Evie Kendal.
Dr Kendal points to NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission, a collaboration with private company, SpaceX. DART crashed into the Didymos asteroid in September 2022, successfully altering its trajectory.
While most asteroids and comets burn up in the atmosphere on their way to Earth, larger ones like 2024 YR4 could cause significant damage and even global catastrophes.
And while the UN endorsed Space Mission Planning Advisory Group is likely the frontrunner in tackling a crisis – recent geopolitical events make it unlikely an immediate coordinated response would be achieved. Therefore, frameworks and governing bodies need to be developed now in order to prepare and protect for the future, Dr Kendal says.
The 2021 comedy film, Don’t Look Up, also explores a hypothetical scenario in which a planetary defence action is undermined so a private company can mine the valuable comet instead.