NEO CONFERENCE: The NEO Report from Association of Space Explorers

Dr. Tom Jones presented a talk entitled "The Association of Space Explorers (ASE) NEO Report and Onwards." Discussion included origins of the report, details on the workshops, coordination with the UN and other related matters.

Tom introduced his talk by asking the question on why work on NEO detection and deflection is necessary. He referred back to Rusty's talk, but also elaborated on the challenge of managing the flood of expected NEO discoveries and the likelihood of decisions required for detection and deflection. Also, there is a need for a "Mission Rules" paradigm to ensure that decisions made regarding NEO detection, tracking and deflection are made efficiently and effectively.

There is a need for global response to NEOs, but the challenges are not trivial. Examples include: The coming "avalanche" of discoveries of potentially hazardous NEOs is expected, space technology is such that detection and deflection is possible, deflection techniques shift risks to different populations, planning takes decades, decision frequency much higher than impact frequency, decision often required before impact confidence is high, and lack of planning risks delay, panic and missed opportunities.

ASE established a NEO committee following Rusty Schweickart's recommendation. ASE's observer status at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) provided a window to introduce and elaborate the NEO problem to the international community via a legitimate and credible mechanism. ASE also has membership on Action Team-14, a working group within the COPUOS Scientific and Technical Subcommittee dedicated to NEOs. The Secure World Foundation also has observer status at COPUOS as well as membership on Action Team-14, and is a key partner with ASE on the matter of NEOs.

ASE sponsored a series of workshops bringing together experts in NEOs across the board, from technology, science and policy. These workshops culminated in the authorship of a report, which was subsequently formally presented to COPUOS in February 2009. The year is now dedicated to making stakeholders, decision-makers and the public aware of the report's conclusions and recommendations. There are, however, many outstanding issues that require resolution.

The report essentially recommends that the United nations Security Council establish a functional system to address NEOs, rather than establishing new facilities and a new bureaucracy. A Mission Authorization and Oversight Council (MAOC) would have UN oversight, address policy issues and manage the two functions under its oversight authority. These two functions include the Information Analysis and Warning Network (IAWN) and the Mission Planning and Operations Group (MPOC). The IAWN would handle detection, tracking and warning, whereas the MPOC would focus on deflection, guided by a Mission Plan already established in order to increase decision-making time and effectiveness of response.

Costs involved are considered extremely moderate, especially when the costs of doing nothing could be catastrophic.

Current status is that recently widely observed and reported NEO events have increased awareness, and ASE successfully presented the NEO report, in partnership with SWF, to COPUOS earlier in the year. A campaign to have COPUOS formally adopt the recommendations of the report is the current effort, with ASE, the B612 Foundation, and COPUOS Action Team-14 continuing to work on NEO issues indefinitely.

In sum, according to Rusty Schweickart, "We are driving around the Solar System without insurance."