Asteroid Threat & Awareness - Asteroids have caused global catastrophes in the past, such as the extinction of 75% of species, including dinosaurs, approximately 65 million years ago [2] - Earth's atmosphere protects the planet, but significant asteroid impacts still occur, with 190 noted impact sites [6][7] - A Tunguska event in Russia flattened 100 square kilometers of forest, highlighting the potential devastation [8][9] - The Chelyabinsk event injured hundreds and affected thousands of buildings, demonstrating the impact potential even with smaller asteroids [10] - World Asteroid Day on June 30th serves as a reminder of the potential threat [8] Asteroid Discovery & Monitoring - Approximately 44 tons of material from space rains down on Earth daily, mostly as small particles [18] - The Vera Rubin Observatory discovered over 2,000 new asteroids within a week, showcasing advancements in asteroid detection [21] - Astronomers track near-Earth objects to assess potential collision risks [25] - An asteroid of 150 meters in size could disintegrate a city upon impact [26] - Asteroid Apophis will pass close to Earth in April 2029, within one-tenth the distance of the moon [28][29] Asteroid Deflection & Resource Utilization - NASA's DART mission successfully altered an asteroid's orbit, demonstrating a method for asteroid deflection [32] - Space agencies are exploring methods to deflect asteroids, avoiding fragmentation that could cause multiple impacts [30][31] - Asteroids contain carbon, silica, and metals, making them potential targets for space mining [38] - Space mining could provide resources for building structures in space and fuel for missions to Mars and Jupiter [39]