So there’s an asteroid that has a 72 p.c likelihood of hitting Earth within the subsequent 14 years – what’s NASA going to do?That is the – do not panic – hypothetical situation the oldsters at NASA have just lately been making an attempt to answer in case a world-ending impression is ever on the playing cards.Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the solar. Whereas they’re smaller than planets, you actually would not need one to be heading in direction of Earth, by no means thoughts hitting it.Which is why astronomers over at NASA have been making ready for this very occasion.NASA has been planning for an asteroid that has a 72 p.c likelihood of hitting Earth (Getty Inventory Photograph)The hypothetical situation has seen scientists testing a simulation during which they deliberate for the potential of an asteroid having a 72 p.c likelihood of hitting our planet in 14 years.In a report, NASA defined that whereas there is no such thing as a identified important menace of an asteroid hitting Earth for the foreseeable future, hypothetical workout routines like this one are invaluable.“The uncertainties in these preliminary situations for the train allowed individuals to contemplate a very difficult set of circumstances,” mentioned Lindley Johnson, planetary protection officer emeritus at NASA Headquarters in Washington.“A big asteroid impression is doubtlessly the one pure catastrophe humanity has the know-how to foretell years prematurely and take motion to stop.”Throughout the simulation – which came about on the John Hopkins Utilized Physics Laboratory in Maryland – almost 100 consultants had been requested to contemplate a response to the occasion, ought to it ever occur.Sadly, preliminary findings weren’t ‘adequate’ in understanding the asteroid’s dimension and route of journey.The situation was made much more troublesome by the truth that observations would must be delayed by seven months.This was as a result of within the hypothetical situation, the asteroid had handed behind the solar, shortly after being found.“Our mission helps individuals earlier than, throughout, and after disasters,” mentioned Leviticus ‘LA’ Lewis, Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) detailee to NASA’s Planetary Protection Coordination Workplace.“We work throughout the nation each day earlier than disasters occur to assist individuals and communities perceive and put together for doable dangers.”Within the occasion of a possible asteroid impression, FEMA can be a number one participant in interagency coordination.”The train noticed virtually 100 consultants come collectively to arrange the response (Getty Inventory Photograph)The train used information from NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Check (DART) mission, which helps defend Earth from the specter of asteroids.In the meantime, NASA’s NEO Surveyor – which is designed to hurry up the detection of objects heading for Earth – is at present being developed.It is anticipated the NEO Surveyor will launch in June 2028.Following the simulation, NASA will launch a full report figuring out the strengths and weaknesses of the report, together with learnings and proposals for a way the response could possibly be improved.