The National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan (Strategy and Action Plan) will improve our Nation’s preparedness to address the hazard of near-Earth object (NEO) impacts over the next 10 years. Its primary role is to help organize and coordinate NEO-related efforts within Federal Departments and Agencies (agencies), with a particular focus on efforts that are already existing and resourced. It seeks to leverage and enhance existing assets and capabilities—National and international, public and private—to effectively manage the risks associated with NEOs. The Strategy and Action Plan builds on efforts by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Department of Energy (DOE) to detect and characterize the NEO population and to prevent and respond to NEO impacts on Earth.

Five strategic goals, each supported by a set of strategic objectives and specific associated actions, underpin the effort to enhance the Nation’s preparedness for potential NEO impacts:

Goal 1: Enhance NEO Detection, Tracking, and Characterization Capabilities: NASA will lead the development of a roadmap for improving national capabilities for NEO detection, tracking, and
characterization. Supporting actions will reduce current levels of uncertainty and aid in more accurate modeling and more effective decision-making.

Goal 2: Improve NEO Modeling, Prediction, and Information Integration: Agencies will coordinate the development of validated modeling tools and simulation capabilities that aid in characterizing and mitigating NEO impact risks while streamlining data flows to support effective decision-making.

Goal 3: Develop Technologies for NEO Deflection and Disruption Missions: NASA will lead development of technologies for fast-response NEO reconnaissance missions and timely missions to
deflect or disrupt hazardous NEOs. Developing these technologies before an imminent threat arises will strengthen our ability to prevent NEO impact disasters.

Goal 4: Increase International Cooperation on NEO Preparation: Agencies will work to inform and develop international support for addressing global NEO impact risks. International engagement and cooperation will help the Nation to prepare more effectively for a potential NEO impact.

Goal 5: Strengthen and Routinely Exercise NEO Impact Emergency Procedures and Action

Protocols: The United States will strengthen and exercise procedures and protocols for assessing NEO threats, communication regarding threats, and response and recovery activities. Coordinated
communications and notifications within the U.S. Government and with foreign governments will improve impact emergency preparedness and reduce the physical and economic harm to the Nation. The Strategy and Action Plan should inform the policy development process. Any commitment of Federal resources to support the activities outlined in this document will be determined through the budget process.

Document Archive

 National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan, June 2018 [23 Pages, 1.3MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/space/National-Near-Earth-Object-Preparedness-Strategy-and-Action-Plan-23-pages-1MB.pdf

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Bibliography of Extraterrestrial Research, June 1963 [113 Pages, 3.96MB] – The purpose of this bibliography is to provide a reference source on all extraterrestrial research pertinent to planetary exploration, scientific investigation, and base construction, and to include all known references in these and related areas.

 Bibliography of Extraterrestrial Research, Second Edition, July 1964 [223 Pages, 10.1MB]

Proceedings of the FY90 Workshop on Extraterrestrial Mining and Construction, August 7 – 9, 1990 [176 Pages, 5.63MB] – This report documents the proceedings of a workshop on issues involved in extraterrestrial planet surface activities involving mining and construction. In this second workshop dedicated to the subject, participants formed three discussion groups: (1) Construction and Mining Concepts and Equipment Designs, (2) Design Standards and Codes, and (3) Operations and Performance. Mining and construction tasks were categorized into 11 primary functions. Several equipment types and designs were reviewed for specific surface tasks, and surface and underground mining techniques were reviewed. It was noted that there is a need to develop separate codes and specifications for extraterrestrial construction, although earth-based codes provide a good starting point, and existing Corps of Engineers’ Construction criteria and specifications may be a good model on which to base the new codes. Several key operational tasks, and concepts for accomplishing them were developed. One such important principle is to progress from simple to complex. Any lunar base should begin construction with modular, self contained units, and gradually progress to more complex construction using locally derived/developed materials. All groups emphasized that mission plans should be formed as concretely as possible, including crew size and mission timetable, to help establish realistic operations and performance criteria.

Use of Extraterrestrial Resources for Mars Basing, March 1963 [23 Pages, 1.36MB] – The establishment of exploratory bases on the Moon and Mars will lead to complex logistics, if all supplies have to be provided from the Earth. Use of regeneration techniques to recover water and oxygen, and hydroponic gardening to grow food can reduce the logistics requirements. A further drastic reduction of space transportation costs can be achieved by using lunar and planetary resources for the local production of water, which together with its decomposition products represents over 90% of all the logistic needs of humans and which can also satisfy rocket propulsion needs for spacecraft if used in its dissociated state and liquefied form as LH2 and LO2. The use of locally-produced fuels will drastically change the operating modes. Locally produced chemical compounds suitable as fuels for spacecraft and extraterrestrial surface and flight vehicles or as nutrients for the local production of food and for the photosynthetic regeneration of oxygen are discussed. The early prototype development of mining, processing and regeneration equipment for the above purposes is encouraged.

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