[FPSPACE] Looking for a vision

[E.P. Grondine]

Hi Jens - 

I am having a rough time locating the language you cite.
(Damn stroke)  Jens, are you doing all of this by yourself, or do you have helpers? I've had a stroke, and if I was not house bound with several hours to peck this reply out and correct it, I would not be able to respond. If it were not for the fact that some parts of my brain were not hit by
my stroke, I'd be incapable of dealing with this at all. The asteroid
and comet stuff was in other areas; not the areas which are blown. Now if I can remember where I set my keys, peoples' names,
stop leaving pots on the stove, fill out ordinary forms, write legibly, move well
again, etc., everything will be just peachy.

I did remember to go to Thomas.gov, as it has been in my bookmarks for years. 6063 was enacted by the House and Senate for 2008, the George Brown Jr. amendment was passed at the end of 2005, and specific enabling language inserted then in the NASA charter.  

There was a one year reporting requirement for Griffin as well,  in the 2005 legislation. Note especially OSTP's report which is coming due next year. This is probably in response to Griffin's failure. 

6063 ENR (enacted by the House and Senate, copied and pasted):

SEC. 801. REAFFIRMATION OF POLICY.

(a) Reaffirmation of Policy on Surveying Near-Earth Asteroids and Comets- Congress reaffirms the policy set forth in section 102(g) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 (42 U.S.C. 2451(g)) (relating to surveying near-Earth asteroids and comets).

(b) Sense of Congress on Benefits of Near-Earth Object Program Activities- It is the sense of Congress that the near-Earth object program activities of NASA will provide benefits to the scientific and exploration activities of NASA.

SEC. 802. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) Near-Earth objects pose a serious and credible threat to humankind, as many scientists believe that a major asteroid or comet was responsible for the mass extinction of the majority of the Earth's species, including the dinosaurs, nearly 65,000,000 years ago.

(2) Several such near-Earth objects have only been discovered within days of the objects' closest approach to Earth and recent discoveries of such large objects indicate that many large near-Earth objects remain undiscovered.

(3) Asteroid and comet collisions rank as one of the most costly natural disasters that can occur.

(4) The time needed to eliminate or mitigate the threat of a collision of a potentially hazardous near-Earth object with Earth is measured in decades.

(5) Unlike earthquakes and hurricanes, asteroids and comets can provide adequate collision information, enabling the United States to include both asteroid-collision and comet-collision disaster recovery and disaster avoidance in its public-safety structure.

(6) Basic information is needed for technical and policy decision making for the United States to create a comprehensive program in order to be ready to eliminate and mitigate the serious and credible threats to humankind posed by potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroids and comets.

(7) As a first step to eliminate and to mitigate the risk of such collisions, situation and decision analysis processes, as well as procedures and system resources, must be in place well before a collision threat becomes known.

SEC. 803. REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION.

The Administrator shall issue requests for information on--

(1) a low-cost space mission with the purpose of rendezvousing with, attaching a tracking device, and characterizing the Apophis asteroid; and

(2) a medium-sized space mission with the purpose of detecting near-Earth objects equal to or greater than 140 meters in diameter.

SEC. 804. ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICY WITH RESPECT TO THREATS POSED BY NEAR-EARTH OBJECTS.

Within 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the OSTP shall--

(1) develop a policy for notifying Federal agencies and relevant emergency response institutions of an impending near-Earth object threat, if near-term public safety is at risk; and

(2) recommend a Federal agency or agencies to be responsible for--
(A) protecting the United States from a near-Earth object that is expected to collide with Earth; and
(B) implementing a deflection campaign, in consultation with international bodies, should one be necessary.

SEC. 805. PLANETARY RADAR CAPABILITY.

The Administrator shall maintain a planetary radar that is comparable to the capability provided through the Deep Space Network Goldstone facility of NASA.

SEC. 806. ARECIBO OBSERVATORY.

Congress reiterates its support for the use of the Arecibo Observatory for NASA-funded near-Earth object-related activities. The Administrator, using funds authorized in section 101(a)(1)(B), shall ensure the availability of the Arecibo Observatory's planetary radar to support these activities until the National Academies' review of NASA's approach for the survey and deflection of near-Earth objects, including a determination of the role of Arecibo, that was directed to be undertaken by the Fiscal Year 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Act, is completed.

SEC. 807. INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES.

It is the sense of Congress that, since an estimated 25,000 asteroids of concern have yet to be discovered and monitored, the United States should seek to obtain commitments for cooperation from other nations with significant resources for contributing to a thorough and timely search for such objects and an identification of their characteristics.


Now what you cited, Jens, from where I know not, but it looks like the ASE recommendations, not 6063 as passed:
(7) As a first step to eliminate and to mitigate
the risk of such collisions, situation and 
decision analysis processes, as well as 
procedures and system resources, must be in place 
well before a collision threat becomes known.

JKO: That's phantasy bullshit. The possible scenarios
are just too many. 

EP: In your opinion. 

JKO: Only AFTER a collision threat is identified
would it be meaningful to spend funds on 
mitigation. Besides, chances are that no
mitigation is required until so many years from
now that future technology can be relied on.  
   
E.P.: 2022-2009 = 13 years

Sec. 804 (2):
... recommend a Federal agency or agencies to be
 responsible for--
(A) protecting the United States from a 
near-Earth object that is expected to collide 
with Earth; and
(B) implementing a deflection campaign, in consultation
with international bodies, should one be necessary.

JKO: More SF bullshit. 

E.P.: In your opinion, but the language does need
to be clarified. NASA has the detection role already,
so where the hell did you get this from. Then 
DOE or DoD have roles for nuclear charges
and or nuclear electric powered SSHC Lasers. 
FEMA, hotline, and international reporting mechanisms 
still need definition. This should be covered in the
OSTP report.

JKO: Would suit an Act dealing with how we should react to a hypothetical SETI
breakthrough, but just doesn't belong in a
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Authorization Act.

E.P.: In your opinion, but others have a different 
view. If you don't think that the US congress
expects NASA to protect their constituents
from being blown up, washed away, starved or
frozen, then think again. If you think that they 
want some newly armed country mistakenly thinking
its been attacked, then think again.

Sec. 807:
It is the sense of Congress that, since an estimated
25,000 asteroids of concern have yet to be discovered
and monitored, the United States should seek to obtain
commitments for cooperation from other nations with
significant resources for contributing to a thorough
and timely search for such objects and an identification
of their characteristics. 

JKO: That's the important thing and on the peanut side
economically. 

E.P.: I'm tired of picking up the bill alone, 
Jens. Cite me some ESA language, and how much do 
you all want to pitch in? 

JKO: So why on Earth prevaricate here, 
Mr. Congressman and Ms. Congresslady? Why all of
a sudden exhibit an ostrich mentality? 

E.P.: Excuse me, but I'll be leaving you now 
so you and the waiter can talk quietly together.

J.K.O.: And hey, what happened to the need to search for
cometary fragments? 

E.P.: In the language defining NEOs back in 2005.
It survived fierce NASA lobbying then. See the 
findings section above in 6063 as well: 
"ASTEROIDS AND COMETS."

JKO: That's an area where deep thinking is 
immediately relevant, as opposed to the plans 
for toying around with gravity tractors
and asteroid tugs pulling and pushing harmless
miniature rocks to and fro.
EP: If we can find these things early enough there are non nuclear options for many of them, options which 
NASA could handle entirely on its own. But there are three essential things for them: early detection, early detection, and early detection. 

By the way, those little rocks are moving at incredible speeds, which is why they create such big messes.

E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas



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