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(AP) -- VIENNA, Austria - Space experts say the threat of an eventual asteroid collision with Earth is real and requires an action plan. The experts have been briefing U.N. officials on their panel's recent report: "Asteroid Threats: A Call for a Global Response." The group includes former astronaut Rusty Schweickart, an Apollo crew member and chairman of the International Panel on Asteroid Threat Mitigation. The panel believes that the world community could minimize the threat of asteroids by creating a plan -- within the framework of the U.N. -- that allows for quick and coordinated action in a collision crisis.

He believes such a plan could save valuable time needed to deflect so-called Near Earth Objects - and save lives by evacuating people living in impact zones. Next year alone, six Near Earth Objects have a "very small" probability of hitting the Earth. Schweickart confirms that devastating collisions happen "very infrequently" but says an advance plan is essential, rather than waiting until "the last minute."

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