ACTIVITIES  
            IN BRITAIN

Britain has long been among the world leaders in astronomy, and has expertise in the disciplines required in the study of Near Earth Objects and the consequences of impact. British industry also has the skills required to contribute through its expertise in solid state devices, information technology, and in telescope and spacecraft design and construction.

Through the work of groups in about a dozen universities and other institutions, Britain has contributed to the international effort in the study of Near Earth Objects and the consequences of their impacts on the Earth. However, there is at present no continuing British involvement in coordinated programmes to search for Near Earth Objects and to determine their orbits.

Current strengths in the British contributions include the theoretical prediction of the evolution of orbits under the influence of the gravitational field of planets and other asteroids, the determination of the size, mass, spin rate, and structure of asteroids from observations at optical and infrared wavelengths, and the use of the national meteorite collection as a data resource for the classification of asteroids.There is also very important British work on the impact record on Earth and the Moon, the modelling of crater formation by impact, and studies of the atmospheric effects caused by impacts. British researchers have a longstanding interest in developing an historical perspective on the impact record from both geological and human records.

Most support for work on the subject comes from the Research Councils and the university system. None of the Councils has a specific remit for work on Near Earth Objects, but several are involved in different degrees and ways - the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) for astronomy and space science; the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) for the physical effects of impacts on the Earth (solid land, oceans and atmosphere); the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) for effects on living organisms; and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for the economic and social consequences of an impact. PPARC is obviously the most directly concerned. It does not carry out astronomical work itself, but responds to initiatives from the academic community and funds work accordingly across the field of astronomy.

There are several important centres of space research in Britain, with skills in instrument construction, mission planning and data analysis. Closely allied are centres of space engineering, both in industry, national institutes and universities, particularly in the field of small satellite technology, and in planetary landing devices.The Ministry of Defence and the Atomic Weapons Establishment have experience relevant to work on mitigation possibilities, but at present the Ministry of Defence has no specific remit regarding Near Earth Objects.

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