Planetary Defense: The Risk, Recent Achievements, and Work to Go

Asteroid impacts pose a credible threat to humanity, but--unlike many types of natural disasters--they are also potentially preventable. Planetary defense encompasses all efforts to detect and warn of potential near-Earth object impacts and to either prevent impacts or reduce their consequences, if impact cannot be prevented. Over the last few years, planetary defense has moved into the mainstream, and planetary-defense efforts have accelerated across the globe. With the success of NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in 2022, humanity has now demonstrated that we have a viable technology to deflect asteroids. But what comes next? This seminar will provide an overview of the hazards posed by near-Earth object impacts, the state of the field, and outline what needs to be done in the coming decade to make progress toward an operational planetary defense capability.

Speaker: Terik Daly (Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory)

This event will be held in person and virtually. To stream the colloquium, please click the Webcast button above. The password is uyNAk5wx26P.

The goal of STScI Engineering and Technology Colloquia is to provide speakers for our community of the highest caliber from leading-edge engineering and technology disciplines and promote collaboration with professionals across the Institute. The steering committee invites speakers not only from conventional engineering disciplines, but from across business, academia, and government. Obtaining speakers with perspectives and knowledge that can enrich the understanding of our staff and simultaneously enhance their connections with other professionals across the nation is fundamental to ensuring STScI remains at the forefront of its mission.

Please direct questions or comments to seatc@stsci.edu. The 2026 committee members are Aasif Chanandin, Reena DeBerry, Melody Easton, Sherita Hanna, Aiden Kovacs, Donald McLean, Lauretta Nagel (Chair), Susan Reed, Michael Register, Justin Trammell.