How to Kill an Asteroid - The Real Science of Planetary Defense

There are approximately 25,000 "city killer" asteroids in near-Earth orbit-and most are yet to be found. Small enough to evade detection, they are capable of large-scale destruction, and represent our greatest cosmic threat. But in September 2022, against all odds, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission deliberately crashed a spacecraft into a carefully selected city killer, altering the asteroid's orbit and proving that we stand a chance against them.
In How to Kill an Asteroid, award-winning science journalist Robin George Andrews-who was at DART mission control when it happened-reveals the development of the technology that made it possible, from spotting elusive asteroids and comets to figuring out their geologic defenses and orchestrating a deflection campaign. In a propulsive narrative that reads like a sci-fi thriller, Andrews tells the story of the planetary defense movement, and introduces the international team of scientists and engineers now working to protect Earth.

About the author

Robin George Andrews is an award-winning science journalist who regularly writes about space and geosciences for outlets including the New York Times, the Atlantic, National Geographic, Scientific American, Atlas Obscura, and Quanta Magazine. He lives in London, England.

Product details

• Authors: Robin George Andrews
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 28.07.2026
• EAN: 9781324131366
• ISBN: 978-1-324-13136-6
• No. of pages: 336
• Illustrations: 26 illustrations
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > Astronomy; Astrophysics, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING / Aeronautics & Astronautics, SCIENCE / Physics / Astrophysics, astronautics, Space Science, Astronomy, space & time, Aerospace & aviation technology, SCIENCE / Space Science / General, Astronomy, space and time, SCIENCE / Space Science / Astronomy, Aerospace and aviation technology