Scientist Criticizes NASA Over Asteroid Deflection Inaction

A scientist has warned it’s too late to deflect asteroid 2024 YR4, which could hit Earth in eight years. Discovered by an amateur astronomer, the asteroid’s collision risk has risen. Dr. Robin George Andrews, a volcanologist, stressed the urgency, stating that developing a deflection strategy typically requires a decade or more. “We don’t have much time,” he said. While NASA’s 2022 mission successfully altered asteroid Dimorphos’ trajectory, Dr. Andrews cautioned that kinetic impactors may not work for 2024 YR4. He urged innovative approaches to mitigate the threat, highlighting the need for immediate action. The warning underscores growing concerns over planetary defense and the challenges of addressing near-Earth objects with limited timeframes.