1998 Asteroid Crisis

The 1998 Asteroid Crisis is an asteroid impact event that was halted by astronauts of the United States Air Force and German Luftwaffe, respectively. The asteroid designated 1997 SH17 was discovered by astronomers with the Lunar Telescope Array. It was declared a Near-Earth Object Hazard Index number of 10 indicating a certain and devastating impact event if it ultimately occurred. The event called global attention to the problem of Near-Earth crosser asteroids and emboldened support of planetary protection protocols. The event was also a major contributing factor in the creation of the United States Space Command as a separate independent branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and the formation of the International Space Treaty Organization (ISTO).
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Category:Geopolitical history
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Category:United States government