Asteroid Threats: A Call for Global Response: The ASE's Challenge to the International Community
Schweickart, Russell; Jones, T.D.; Prunariu, D.D.
Association of Space Explorers, UNITED STATES

The Association of Space Explorers Committee on NEOs and its international Panel on Asteroid Threat Mitigation completed its recommended program for international decision-making regarding NEO deflection/mitigation in September 2008. The report, "Asteroid Threats: A Call for Global Response" has been submitted to the UN/Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and is currently entering a process of deliberation and action within the UN. This presentation outlines the ASE's recommended decision process for NEO threats and summarizes the response to date from international space agencies, UN Member States, and the COPUOS process per se. The presentation will highlight the current points of debate and anticipate the outcome of the UN deliberation.