Join us for another edition of “Look Up It’s an Asteroid!” at ISDC 2026, where we’re turning science fiction into real science so you can help us defend Earth from potentially killer asteroids. Are you curious about whether there is a current probability of Asteroid Apophis impacting Earth in 2029? A new asteroid alert: 2024 YR4 was initially flagged as potentially impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. However, thanks to observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, what is the current probability? Did you know that experts recently estimated a 3.8% chance of 2024 YR4 impacting the Moon?! In our interactive Special Session Workshop, experts will answer these questions and discuss the newest advancements, challenges, and future directions in planetary defense, safeguarding not only Earth but also extending our reach to the Moon and beyond. This year, Nancy C. Wolfson, founder of the Planetary Defense and Beyond Program – Look Up It’s an Asteroid – will highlight both how our attendees and the next generation can actively participate in NEO discovery efforts through the Astrometrica software, and how non-governmental organizations can be an important voice for the future of planetary defense, also supporting the crucial work of our space agencies. Together, we can help protect the future of humanity on Earth, the Moon, and beyond!
TOPIC 2026: The Johns Hopkins APL DART Mission Team: Hitting an Asteroid-From Dimorphos to Didymos and Beyond
MODERATOR: Nancy C. Wolfson, NSS ISDC Planetary Defense Program Manager, Space Education Professional, AIAA.
Embark on the 3rd edition of the NSS ISDC Planetary Defense Special Session, “Look Up: It’s an Asteroid,” a hybrid session tailored for Industry and NextGen with a synergistic approach. Join leaders from the Johns Hopkins APL DART Mission Team for an in-depth exploration of NASA’s historic first planetary defense test mission.
This session provides a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about the complex science and engineering behind the mission’s success. Speakers Dr. Elena Adams, Dr. Angela Stickle, Michelle Chen, and Dr. Andy Rivkin will share insights into the challenges faced during development and execution while discussing how to build on the data and findings learned from DART.
This synergistic discussion builds on the success of the DART mission. Dr. Quanzhi Ye highlights the vital role of ground- and space-based observations in identifying threats like Apophis or 2024 YR4 as they climb the Torino Scale, while James Anthony Wolff and Nancy C. Wolfson explore shifting the global strategy from reactive panic to pre-funded, rapid-response frameworks.
By examining economic “safe harbors” and PD “Look Up” protocols, we aim to unify experts and decision-makers, ensuring that milestones like DART serve as definitive models for preparedness and response to future hazardous threats. We invite you to participate in our NSS ISDC planetary defense survey and contribute to the international efforts to defend Earth from hazardous asteroids.
Planetary Defense Workshop
NSS ISDC Planetary Defense Program Manager
Nancy C. Wolfson
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Nancy C. Wolfson is a Washington, D.C., US-based scholar, lecturer, and researcher. Nancy is a published author with over 18 years of professional managerial experience. President of Disrupting Space, a company dedicated to analog and risk management space-related research and developing international partnership opportunities for various space activities. Nancy focuses on space exploration, sustainability, and planetary defense research and education. Nancy was elected Vice-Chair of the International Astronautical Federation’s (IAF) Read More
Planetary Defense Workshop
Workshop Speakers Info
Dr. Andrew Rivkin
Principal Professional Staff, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Andrew Rivkin is a planetary astronomer at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. He was born in New York City, and obtained his undergraduate degree from MIT in 1991 followed by a PhD in Planetary Sciences from the University of Arizona in 1997. Rivkin was Investigation Lead for the recent Double Asteroid Redirection Test, NASA’s first planetary defense test mission, and has remained active in planetary defense work as Read More
James Anthony Wolff
Partner, Greenspoon Marder LLP
James Anthony Wolff is a partner at Greenspoon Marder LLP and a space, AI, and emerging technologies attorney focused on the legal and capital architecture of frontier industries. His work spans space policy, planetary defense finance, and the structuring of mission-driven ventures operating at the intersection of law, science, and long-term risk. In 2023, he was a co-founder recipient of a NASA award for advanced space systems research, followed by Read More
Dr. Quanzhi Ye
Researcher, University of Maryland
Quanzhi is a research faculty member at the Department of Astronomy of the University of Maryland. Currently, he lives in the Boston area and is also a long-term visitor at the Center for Space Physics of Boston University. He is primarily interested in the small bodies of the Solar System – asteroids, comets, and meteoroids. These objects are pristine remnants from the early times of the Solar System and can Read More