This Senate resolution officially designates June 30, 2026, as "Asteroid Day" to raise public awareness about the risks posed by near-Earth objects and the importance of asteroid research and planetary defense. It commemorates significant past asteroid events, such as the 1908 Tunguska impact and the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor, which highlight the potential for damage, injury, and loss of life from such celestial bodies. The resolution encourages increased public understanding of asteroid threats and the vital role of detection, tracking, and mitigation efforts. It supports continued investment in advanced capabilities, including those of NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office and missions like the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) , which demonstrated asteroid trajectory alteration. Furthermore, the resolution recognizes asteroids as valuable resources for scientific exploration and emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and data sharing for emergency preparedness. It acknowledges the upcoming 2029 International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defense, underscoring global efforts to protect Earth from asteroid impacts.