https://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2013/02/19/asteroids-remind-us-that-we-need-a-better-space-program/feed/HotAir is the leading conservative blog for breaking news and commentary covering the Biden administration, politics, media, culture, and current elections.en-usTue, 09 Jun 2026 15:18:21 -0400<![CDATA[The reason why asteroids are a reminder that we need to be working on our space program is twofold. First, with an advanced space program we can spot them in time to change their trajectories &#8212; or, unless they&#8217;re so big there&#8217;s no point, evacuate the impact zone. (Asteroids 3,000 feet across, or about 20 times as wide as 2012 DA14, which gave us a near-miss on Friday, would strike the Earth with an impact of 40,000 megatons, which would kill most everybody and likely end human civilization). And second, if our civilization spreads beyond the Earth &#8212; whether to the Moon, Mars, orbital colonies, or even to large asteroids themselves &#8212; then it&#8217;s much less likely that any single cause could destroy humanity at one blow.]]>Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:10:17 -0500<![CDATA[Allahpundit]]>https://hotair.com/headlines/2013/02/19/asteroids-remind-us-that-we-need-a-better-space-program-n281017