Would NASA Really Be Able to Save Earth From Global Annihilation?

S.O.S.

Movies like “Moonfall” suggest our only hope for salvation from a world-ending threat is NASA, but the truth is more complicated than that.

Published Feb. 4 2022 4:38AM EST

220203-Grebey-NASA-Earth-tease_vtndu6 — Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty

In Moonfall, director Roland Emmerich’s latest disaster movie, the moon attacks Earth—something we can all agree would be bad news for our home planet. Luckily, as is often the case in space-disaster blockbusters, we have some heroic astronauts and all of NASA’s resources ready to save the day, even if...

James Grebey

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Would NASA Really Be Able to Save Earth From Global Annihilation?

Movies like “Moonfall” suggest our only hope for salvation from a world-ending threat is NASA, but the truth is more complicated than that.

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James Grebey