ABSTRACT
Earth’s position in outer space brings huge hazards, vulnerabilities, and risks but also permits all the planet’s life and all of human society. The relatively rare conjuncture of conditions making the Earth hospitable to life and its evolution might actually make Earth the least hazardous planet we know. Nonetheless, hazards from outer space abound, including near-Earth objects skimming through the atmosphere or striking the planet, particles and rays, ultraviolet radiation, and cosmic rays. Living with outer space hazards is feasible to some extent, with resulting technological dependency, although humanity at the moment seems to be more interested in weapons from space. Additionally, extinction events from outer space, some with almost no warning, are a concern. These possibilities highlight the extremes which nature tosses our way and which must be analyzed to understand disaster risks, hazards, and vulnerabilities beyond the Earth.
