If An Asteroid Were Headed For Earth, Would We Be Ready?
In this NPR Science Friday interview, L.A. Lewis joins Dr. Kelly Fast, acting planetary defense officer at NASA, for a deep dive into one of the most fascinating questions of our time: What happens if an asteroid is headed for Earth?
From a real 3% impact risk scenario with asteroid 2024 YR4 to emergency tabletop exercises and evacuation planning, the conversation explores the science, strategy, and interagency coordination behind planetary defense. With both technical clarity and grounded humility, Lewis and Fast bring to light how preparedness is policy, planning, and people working together before disaster strikes.
Inside the Interview: Behind the Scenes of Planetary Defense
If you've ever watched a Hollywood disaster movie and wondered how close it is to real life, this interview is your primer on what goes on behind the scenes when NASA and FEMA prepare for space hazards. L.A. Lewis, former FEMA liaison to NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, breaks down how government agencies have moved beyond theory to practical exercises simulating real asteroid impact scenarios.
A key example? Asteroid 2024 YR4. Discovered in late 2024, it sparked attention due to an initial 3% chance of impact with Earth. That may sound small, but in Lewis’s world, it’s enough to activate real-world simulations, scenario briefings, and public communication planning.
The interview touches on:
NASA's DART mission and asteroid deflection techniques
Why warning time is the most critical factor for response
How agencies prepare for transnational evacuations and misinformation
The role of international cooperation through IAWN and SMPAG
Simulated asteroid strikes, like the one conducted with Winston-Salem, NC
Lewis reflects on how surreal it was to go from dreaming about space as an Apollo-era kid to collaborating with NASA on protecting the planet from real existential threats. As he reminds us, planetary defense is a team effort and it starts long before the threat appears on the radar.
Listen to the full interview above to explore how science, emergency planning, and global cooperation come together when the stakes are sky-high.