In a recent press briefing, experts highlighted the need for international cooperation in dealing with the looming threat of an asteroid impact on Earth. The United Nations (UN) has been actively involved in developing response procedures for major events such as tsunamis, but experts believe that the scale of an asteroid impact requires a comprehensive international response framework.

Leviticus "L.A." Lewis, a U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) detailee to NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO), emphasized the importance of starting discussions now to prepare for a potential asteroid impact. The immense challenge would involve the coordination of evacuations across multiple nations, considering the large area likely to be affected and the uncertainty in accurately determining an asteroid's trajectory.

The recent fifth Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise, held at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, simulated the scenario of a large asteroid on a trajectory towards Earth. This hypothetical scenario predicted a 72% chance of an impact on July 12, 2038, potentially impacting major cities like Dallas, Memphis, Madrid, and Algiers.

The exercise aimed to assess the nation's ability to respond effectively to such a threat. Nearly 100 participants from U.S. federal agencies and international institutions discussed various potential next steps. However, uncertainties surrounding the asteroid's size and composition presented a challenging set of circumstances to be considered.

Lindley Johnson, NASA's planetary defense officer emeritus, emphasized that a large asteroid impact is one of the few natural disasters that humanity has the technology to predict years in advance and take preventive action. The exercise highlighted the need for a proactive approach in mitigating the potential impact's devastating consequences.

Despite the exercise's recommendation for potential fact-finding missions to the asteroid - either through a flyby or a purpose-built rendezvous effort - the senior leaders acknowledged that immediate action might be limited due to political realities.

The estimated costs for these missions were stated, ranging from $200 million to $400 million for a flyby and between $800 million to $1 billion for a more extensive rendezvous mission.

The focus now lies on discussing how to organize and establish an international response to such a large-scale threat. Determining the responsible organization and setting up a framework for coordination, whether led by the UN or a combination of international organizations, is a significant challenge that must be addressed.

The simulation exercise has brought to light the urgent need to prepare for an asteroid impact scenario. With further telescope observations of the newfound space rock on hold for the next seven months, experts stress the importance of international cooperation and proactive planning to safeguard Earth from the potential devastation of an asteroid impact.