AstroGuard - Near-Earth Asteroid Threat Assessment System

NASA Space Apps Challenge 2025 "Meteor Madness" Submission

Challenge Response

AstroGuard directly addresses the 2025 NASA Space Apps Challenge "Meteor Madness" by creating an interactive visualization and simulation tool that integrates real NASA and USGS datasets to model asteroid impact scenarios, predict consequences, and evaluate mitigation strategies.

Key Features

• Real NASA Data: Live NEO API integration with orbital mechanics modeling
• Scientific Physics: Collins crater scaling laws and peer-reviewed impact formulas
• Population Modeling: WorldPop API for accurate casualty estimates
• 3D Visualization: Interactive orbital trajectories and impact zone mapping
• Mitigation Testing: Deflection scenario analysis (kinetic impactors, gravity tractors)
• "Impactor-2025" Ready: Simulates the challenge's hypothetical asteroid scenario

Quick Start

Backend Setup

cd backend
python -m venv venv && source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
echo "NASA_API_KEY=DEMO_KEY" > .env
python main.py  # Runs on http://localhost:5000

Frontend Setup

cd frontend
npm install
echo "VITE_API_URL=http://localhost:5000" > .env
npm run dev  # Runs on http://localhost:5173

Scientific Implementation

Based on extensive peer-reviewed research (full research documentation):

• Asteroid Density: Taxonomic classification using H-magnitude (Carry 2012)
• Impact Physics: Collins crater scaling laws with atmospheric entry effects
• Population Data: WorldPop API for real-time coordinate-based density
• Casualty Estimates: Nuclear test mortality rates (Glasstone & Dolan 1977)
• Historical Validation: 53% accuracy against Tunguska and Chelyabinsk events

Technology Stack

Frontend: React 18, SpaceKit.js (3D), Leaflet (mapping), D3.js
Backend: FastAPI, NASA NEO API, WorldPop API, OpenAI GPT-4
Physics: Validated against historical impact events using peer-reviewed formulas

System Architecture

API Example

POST /api/simulate-impact
{
  "asteroid_name": "Impactor-2025",
  "latitude": 35.6762,
  "longitude": 139.6503,
  "custom_density": 2500
}

Response:
{
  "crater_diameter": 1200,
  "blast_zones": {"severe_damage": 8.0, "moderate_damage": 15.2},
  "estimated_casualties": 145000,
  "population_density": 1847
}

Challenge Objectives Met

• Interactive visualization tool with 3D asteroid trajectories
• NASA NEO API integration with real asteroid characteristics
• USGS dataset integration for environmental impact modeling
• Physics-based impact consequence prediction
• Mitigation strategy evaluation and visualization
• Multi-audience accessibility (scientists to public)

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Links: Challenge Details | Research Documentation

Transforming asteroid threat data into actionable planetary defense intelligence