Asteroid Defense and Detection Quiz

What is the primary goal of NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office?

• To explore new planets

• To support search programs for near-Earth objects

• To study the sun's impact on Earth

• To develop new space telescopes

What percentage of near-Earth objects larger than one kilometer have been discovered after 20 years of searching?

• 50%

• 75%

• 93%

• 100%

How far into the future do astrodynamicists predict asteroid orbits to assess impact risks?

• A decade

• A century

• A millennium

• A year

Which method involves using a large spacecraft to alter an asteroid's path through gravitational pull?

• Kinetic impactor

• Magnetic deflector

• Explosive device

• Gravity tractor

What is the 'Hollywood option' in asteroid deflection?

• Building a giant shield to block the asteroid

• Sending astronauts to manually redirect the asteroid

• Using a laser to vaporize the asteroid

• Exploding a device near the asteroid to push it