The Role of Science in the Study and Prevention of Space Hazards

Abstract

In the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century, humanity faced serious manifestations of space hazards, the most topical problem among which is space debris. Specialists in space activities deal with it every day and fully realize it. An ever-increasing focus is also made on the unpredictable behavior of our main star, the Sun, and the so-called space weather. The asteroid–comet hazard counts as the most catastrophic in scale. Real manifestations of biological hazards have not been observed thus far, although they become increasingly important as space activities develop. The time scale of astrophysical hazards is millions of years long; therefore, it is of no interest from a practical perspective. This article briefly describes the main types of space hazards. The author analyzes the organization of research and activities in this field. Comparative analysis leads to the unambiguous conclusion of the need for a national program of studies on space hazards and the avoidance of space threats. This article is based on a paper read by the author at a meeting of the RAS Presidium on January 15, 2019.