NASA Simulation of br Asteroid Hitting NY br Predicts Mass Destruction The simulation was part of the "National Near-Earth Object Preparedness Strategy and Action Plan." Designed by NASA engineer Paul Chodas, it took br place at 2019 Planetary Defense Conference br in College Park, MD. The fictional scenario simulated a br 60-meter piece of a larger 260-meter br asteroid breaking off and br impacting Manhattan. An asteroid that size packs br 1,000 times the destructive power br of the nuclear bomb that devastated Hiroshima. The piece breaks off after spacecraft br attempts to deflect the larger asteroidbr heading straight for Denver, CO. The simulation revealed that br the only way to save the population br of New York was a mass evacuation. NASA officials said it will help to develop "more effective communications" within the planetary defense community and governments. According to NASA, br no known asteroid poses a risk to br the Earth in the next 100 years.