How would humanity respond if we discovered an asteroid headed for Earth? NASA’s Planetary Defenders is a gripping documentary that delves into the high-stakes world of asteroid detection and planetary defense. Journey alongside a dedicated team of astronomers and scientists working tirelessly to track and monitor near-Earth asteroids, aiming to protect our planet from potential impacts. This documentary captures the intricate and collaborative efforts of these unsung heroes, blending cutting-edge science with personal stories to reveal the human spirit behind this critical global endeavor. Witness the drama, the challenges and the triumphs of those on the front lines of planetary defense.
The dinosaurs went extinct because they didn’t have a space program. We do have one.
Dr. vishnu reddy
Professor of Planetary Science, University of Arizona
In 2016, NASA established the Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) to manage the agency's ongoing mission of finding, tracking, and better understanding asteroids and comets that could pose an impact hazard to Earth.
I really like that I am protecting the planet. And yes, I’m not the one that's with a cape pushing the asteroid away, that's not what I do. In some ways, my little contribution might not help just myself, but someone in the future, and I think it's very important to do that.
Dr. CASSANDRA LEJOLY
RESEARCHER, SPACEWATCH®
Planetary Defenders is an original NASA documentary that showcases the challenges and the triumphs of those on the front lines of planetary defense.
To learn more about how NASA defends Earth from potential asteroid and comet impact threats, visit the NASA Planetary Defense Coordination Office's website. For film makers wanting more information on how to work directly with NASA on a planetary defense video project, visit NASA’s Film and Documentary information page. For commercial, promotional, and video treatment inquiries, please contact: nasa-entertainment-collaborations@mail.nasa.gov.
Where to Watch
Planetary Defenders can be streamed on NASA+ and NASA's YouTube, and is available on the NASA+ channel on Amazon Prime. The documentary is available for download here.
Planetary Defenders is being screened at the following locations:
- Copernican Planetarium and Observatory in New Britain, CT
- Dale Etheridge Planetarium in North Las Vegas, NV
- Kaleideum in Raleigh, NC
- Louisiana Art and Science Museum in Baton Rouge, LA
- McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, NH
- MOST in Syracuse, NY
- New Jersey State Museum in Trenton, NJ
- Taylor Planetarium in Bozeman, MT
