ABSTRACT

Near-Earth objects (NEOs) are asteroids and comets that orbit the Sun like the planets, but with orbits that can bring them into Earth's neighborhood. An asteroid impact is the only natural disaster that could be prevented, so early identification of any potential impact threat is key. NASA established the Planetary Defense Coordination Office to manage its ongoing mission of planetary defense - from projects to discover, track, and characterize NEOs to the first test mission of an asteroid deflection technique with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART). Hear the latest on the successful DART mission, the recently released White House and NASA strategies for planetary defense, and NASA's efforts to find asteroids... before they find us!

About the Speaker:

Lindley Johnson graduated from the University of Kansas in 1980 with a BA in Astronomy and a commission from Air Force ROTC. He also has an MS degree in Engineering Management from the University of Southern California. He is assigned to NASA Headquarters Science Mission Directorate, Planetary Science Division, as the NASA Planetary Defense Officer and Lead Program Executive for the Planetary Defense Coordination Office, tasked with warning and response to any potential impact of Earth by an asteroid or comet. Prior to NASA he served 23 years of Air Force active duty, obtained the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded numerous military honors and decorations while working on a variety of national security space systems. After joining NASA in 2003, he became the Program Executive for NASA's Deep Impact mission to comet Tempel 1, and then served for eight years as the Lead Program Executive for the Discovery Program. He grew NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program and he led the establishment of the Planetary Defense Coordination Office in January 2016. Lindley received NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal and Exceptional Achievement Medal. Asteroid 5905 (1989 CJ1) is named "Johnson" to recognize Lindley's efforts in detecting Near Earth Objects.

Kelly Fast is the Near-Earth Object Observations Program Manager for NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office and is responsible for the portfolio of projects that find, track, and characterize NEOs, along with related data management and research. Dr. Fast is the lead program officer for the competitive Yearly Opportunities for Research in Planetary Defense research call. She earned her B.S. in Astrophysics from UCLA and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Maryland. She investigated ozone and atmospheric chemistry on Mars, winds on Titan, and the effects on Jupiter's stratosphere of small body impacts as an astronomer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center before coming to NASA Headquarters in 2011. Dr. Fast previously served as Program Scientist for the MAVEN mission to Mars and she previously led NASA's Solar System Observations, Planetary Astronomy and Planetary Atmospheres research programs. Main-belt asteroid 115434 (2003 TU2) was renamed "Kellyfast" in honor of Dr. Fast's contributions to planetary science.