http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM4RWPOHEG_index_0.html
Call for media: reacting to threat of asteroid impacts
European Space Agency
20 October 2010
ESA PR 24-2010 = How would the world react to the threat of an asteroid
impact? The media are invited to meet top-level experts at ESA's space
operations centre in Germany on 29 October to find out more.
Journalists are invited to Darmstadt, Germany for a briefing at the end
of a workshop on Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) and the dangers they present.
The high-level Mission Planning and Operations Group (MPOG) workshop
includes astronauts and space scientists. It is the latest in a series
organised to report to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space and includes representatives from major space agencies, NASA
astronauts, the Secure World Foundation and the Association of Space
Explorers.
"The workshop series is focusing on plans and recommendations for global
coordination and response in the event that an asteroid or other object
is found to pose an impact threat to Earth," says workshop coordinator
Detlef Koschny from ESA.
The three-day meeting is being hosted by ESA at the European Space
Operations Centre, Darmstadt, Germany.
Plausible asteroid impact and timing scenarios
Participants will review the latest information and findings from
asteroid and NEO research worldwide, and receive briefings on activities
of the Inter-Agency Debris Coordination Committee and ESA's Space
Situational Awareness Preparatory Programme. They will also consider two
theoretical but plausible impact scenarios and analyse them in detail in
order to identify the best strategy for global response.
In addition to senior managers from ESA, NASA, the Russian space agency
Roscosmos and numerous national space agencies, participants will include:
* Rusty Schweickart, Apollo 9 astronaut and Head of ASE's Committee
on NEOs
* Thomas Jones, NASA astronaut on four Space Shuttle flights and a
long-time asteroid impact researcher
* Brian Weeden, Technical Advisor at the Secure Word Foundation,
researcher in space debris and collision issues and related space
policy.
* Sergio Camacho, space science researcher, former Director of the
UN Office for Outer Space Affairs and now Secretary General of the
Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for
Latin America and the Caribbean.
The workshop will define future planning tasks and studies for the Group
that will later be merged with findings of other experts to create a
final report to the UN committee. Such a report will recommend how to
react to an impact threat.
Under ESA's Space Situational Awareness Preparatory Programme, Europe is
acquiring the capability to watch for objects and natural phenomena that
could harm satellites in orbit or facilities on the ground.
Media briefing at ESA's operations centre, Friday, 29 October
Programme
12:30 Doors open to pre-registered media representatives
13:00 Welcome by Manfred Warhaut, Head of the Mission Operations Dept.
and Deputy Head of ESOC
13:05 Overview by Nicolas Bobrinsky, Head of ESA's Space Situational
Awareness Preparatory Programme
13:20 Introduction of MPOG participants by Detlef Koschny, ESA NEO expert
13:30 Presentation of findings by MPOG Workshop
14:15 Open Q&A with the media
14:30 Conclusion; further interview opportunities
Live webcast 29 October 2010 13:00 - 14:30 CEST
The media briefing will be webcast live from ESOC on 29 October,
13:00-14:30 CEST (GMT+2). The video stream will be available via:
http://www.esa.int/ssa
Website owners wishing to embed/rebroadcast the stream should visit
http://www.livestream.com/eurospaceagency for details and to access the
embed video player code.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact
Media contacts at ESOC
Bernhard von Weyhe or Andreas Schepers
Corporate Communications Office, ESA/ESOC
Tel: +49 6151 90 25 46 (4204)
andreas.schep...@esa.int
Workshop Coordinator
Dr Detlef Koschny
ESA Head of Space Situational Awareness Preparatory Programme - NEO Segment
Tel: +31 71 565 4828
detlef.kosc...@esa.int
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