[retrocryptid]

I was sort of pulling for the asteroid and got depressed when I heard this, but then realized... 0.28 percent is not zero. There's still enough of a chance it'll hit that we're going to be forced to take it seriously.

In the states we're dismantiling our research and development infrastructure (will the last person at Stennis or JPL please turn out the lights) but China has been making strides and the ESA has a pretty decent record of launching things, so maybe there's enough time for them to plan, launch and execute a DART-like impact mission on 2024 YR4.

We will know we're living in a simulation if North Korea puts a nuke on a large rocket and successfully deflects it.

[rafram]

AFAIK JPL has not actually been affected by the current turmoil. JPL employees technically work for Caltech, not the federal government, so they’re pretty well insulated. They did a layoff (5%) in November but haven’t done anything since.

[genter]

But government grants are being rescinded, and I'd assume Caltech depends on those.