Final answer:
The Torino Scale is a rating tool used to assess the threat level of near-Earth objects, like asteroids, based on their potential to collide with and cause damage to Earth. The NASA Spaceguard Survey aids in locating these objects, which assists in evaluating their threat using the Torino Scale. Advanced projects, like the DART mission, are focused on developing defense technologies against these potential threats.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Torino Scale is c. a tool to rate the potential threat an asteroid poses to Earth. It is used as a communication device to assess how likely it is that a near-Earth object (NEO), such as an asteroid or comet, will collide with Earth, and what the potential consequences of such a collision could be. The scale ranges from 0 (no risk) to 10 (certain global catastrophe) and takes into account factors like the size and speed of the NEO, as well as its likelihood of impacting Earth.
Understanding the risks associated with NEOs is critical to planetary defense. The NASA Spaceguard Survey's mission is to locate and track such objects. The goal set was to find 90% of NEOs larger than 1 kilometer, as impacts of this size could cause global catastrophe. By 2021, the survey had discovered more than 25,000 near-Earth asteroids, improving our understanding of the NEO population and aiding in the continued assessment of potential impact risks.
Furthermore, the Spaceguard Survey identifies and catalogues NEOs, enabling their assessment using the Torino Scale. The DART mission aims to test technologies that could potentially deflect hazardous NEOs. The ongoing efforts ensure that if a dangerous NEO is detected early enough, appropriate measures might be taken to avoid a catastrophic event.