NASA meanwhile is getting decimated in Musk-led spending efficiency campaign.

The National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) is grappling with two significant challenges: an impending asteroid threat and sweeping budget cuts imposed by the administration of Donald Trump. These developments could impact not only planetary defense efforts but also the agency’s ability to conduct groundbreaking space research.

A killer asteroid on the horizon

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has just raised the chance of 2024 YR4 – a 40/90-foot near-Earth asteroid – to hit Earth from 2.1% last week to 3.1% as of now. This makes 2024 YR4 the highest-threat asteroid ever detected, reaching level 3 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale. The eventual impact – if it happens – is expected on 22 December 2032.

If 2024 YR4 were to collide with Earth, it could impact regions spanning the eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Arabian Sea, and South Asia—home to some of the world’s most densely populated cities like Bogotá in Colombia and Mumbai in India.

More to read:
Asteroid Bennu is rich in carbon and water. How about Apophis?

The asteroid would enter Earth's atmosphere at an astonishing speed of 38,000 mph, releasing eight megatons of energy—over 500 times the force of the Hiroshima atomic bomb, destroying entirely a city as large as New York.

While scientists stress that the impact probability remains relatively low, the European Space Agency (ESA) warns that as more observations are made, the likelihood of impact could either increase or drop to zero.

NASA is now considering deploying the James Webb Space Telescope to study the asteroid further and assess whether intervention, such as the DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft used in 2022, might be necessary.

NASA cuts threaten space defense efforts

Compounding concerns about planetary defense, NASA itself is undergoing severe workforce reductions. In a move reminiscent of Elon Musk’s mass layoffs at Twitter/X, the Trump administration has pushed for drastic cutbacks at the agency.

Around 750 employees have accepted a “deferred resignation” option, allowing them to continue receiving pay until September despite stepping down in February. Additionally, approximately 1,000 probationary employees will be dismissed outright. In total, nearly 10% of NASA’s 18,000-person workforce has already been cut, with more layoffs anticipated in the coming months.

More to read:
What is the connection between a comet and human stupidity?

The cuts come amid a broader effort by the Trump administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency to audit NASA’s spending, further fueling uncertainty among the remaining personnel.

With Musk’s SpaceX playing an increasingly pivotal role in U.S. space exploration, some speculate that NASA's restructuring could shift more responsibilities to private sector partnerships, creating obvious conflicts of interest.

If the agency's planetary defense capabilities are weakened due to workforce cuts, humanity’s ability to deflect a potential asteroid impact eight years from now could be greatly compromised.

***

NewsCafe relies in its reporting on research papers that need to be cracked down to average understanding. Some even need to be paid for. You can support us via PayPal: office[at]rudeana.com or https://paypal.me/newscafeeu, or https://buymeacoffee.com/newscafe - any amount is welcome. You may also want to like or share our story, that would help us too.