On July 17, Sentinel Mission co-founder Rusty Schweickart gave a review of the status of the global efforts to protect life on the planet from the devastation of large asteroid impacts and about our prospects of avoiding the same fate as the dinosaurs.

He spoke at the NASA Ames Research Center Director’s Colloquium, which was presented by the Office of the Chief Scientist as part of the Center’s 75th anniversary celebration.

We hope you’ll watch and share his talk.

NASA Ames is involved in research and technology development to mitigate threats so large they question the very survival of our species. The 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor demonstrated that grave uncertainties exist pertaining to near-Earth objects (NEOs). Although the impact rate for dangerous asteroids is relatively low, the consequences of such an event are severe.

Apollo Astronaut Rusty Schweickart will review the status of the global efforts to protect life on the planet from the devastation of large asteroid impacts and about our prospects of avoiding the same fate as the dinosaurs.

The NASA Ames Director’s Colloquium Summer Series was presented by the Office of the Chief Scientist as part of the Center’s 75th anniversary celebration.

NASA Ames Research Center Director’s Colloquium, Moffett Field, California.(July 17, 2014)