That NASA Near Earth Object (NEO) study for Congress continues to spark heated debate.

In a communique to me about the get-together, Chapman rates the NASA meeting as a “sad day” for those hoping to move constructively toward systematic thought on how best to deal with the potential hazard of a dangerous space rock smacking into Earth.

One particular area of contention, among several issues, is NASA’s backing for standoff nuclear deflection of a NEO, with the space agency report viewing it as an effective way to thwart an incoming asteroid with Earth’s name on it.

That approach is deemed a very poor idea in almost all cases, Chapman relates.

Turns out, however, the NASA NEO study group had received secret input that can’t be discussed, making the nuclear option doable, the NASA report relates, for deflecting even the smallest NEOs.