Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world
Major General Garry Schnelzer (USAF ret), Mr. James Marshall, Dr. William Bottke (SwRI) and Dr Timothy Spahr (Minor Planet Center) will speak on potential US-Russian cooperation in Planetary Defense Programs.
Major General Garry Schnelzer (USAF ret), Mr. James Marshall, Dr. William Bottke (SwRI) and Dr Timothy Spahr (Minor Planet Center) will speak on potential US-Russian cooperation in Planetary Defense Programs.
On February 15, 2013, an asteroid exploded above the Siberian city of Chelyabinsk with the force of 500 kilotons. It caused over $30 million in property damage and injured more than 1,500 people. There was no warning of the asteroid’s impact and its characteristics were not unlike that of a nuclear reentry warhead. Currently, less than 1 percent of the Chelyabinsk size asteroids (diameter of 20 meters) have been surveyed.
Following the Chelyabinsk event, Ambassador Dmitry Rogozin, Russia’s Deputy Premier for Defense and Space, made a public plea for Russian and U.S. cooperation in addressing future asteroid threats. The speakers will address what is being done to enable the United States to respond to Ambassador Rogozin’s request.
This seminar is off the record and comments cannot be published without the consent of the speaker. The seminar is open to Harvard students, fellows, faculty and ID card holders.
