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It's not sci-fi: Americans support asteroid defense spending

The article from Salon discusses a recent poll conducted by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which found that a significant majority of Americans support government spending on asteroid defense. The poll revealed that 61% of Americans believe the government should prioritize funding for planetary defense, with 76% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans in favor. This support comes in light of increasing awareness of potential asteroid threats, highlighted by events like the Chelyabinsk meteor explosion in 2013. The article also touches on NASA's efforts, such as the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, aimed at testing technologies to deflect potentially hazardous asteroids. Despite the bipartisan support, there's a noted concern about the cost and effectiveness of such programs, with some skepticism about whether the funds could be better allocated elsewhere. However, the general consensus leans towards the necessity of preparing for such cosmic threats, reflecting a broader public interest in space safety and defense.

Read the Full Salon Article at:
[ https://www.salon.com/2025/01/28/its-not-sci-fi-americans-support-asteroid-defense-spending_partner/ ]