Near-Earth Objects – Detection, Threats, and Opportunities

Webinar Overview

Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) – asteroids, comets, and meteoroids that drift close to our planet – are cosmic storytellers, potential threats, and even future resources. This expert-led webinar will unravel the science behind these celestial visitors, exploring how they shape our understanding of the solar system and how humanity is preparing to defend Earth from catastrophic impacts.

From the Chelyabinsk meteor’s surprise explosion in 2013 to the dinosaur-ending Chicxulub impact, NEOs have left their mark on history. But today, cutting-edge technology allows us to detect, track, and even deflect hazardous objects. This session will cover:

• The nature of NEOs: What are they made of? Where do they come from? How do we classify them?
• Real-world case studies: Lessons from Bennu, Apophis, and NASA’s groundbreaking DART mission, which successfully altered an asteroid’s orbit.
• Impact risks: How often do major collisions occur? Could we stop the next Tunguska-sized event?
• Future strategies: Upcoming missions like NEO Surveyor and OSIRIS-APEX, plus innovative deflection techniques like gravity tractors and kinetic impactors.

Engage with leading experts through live polls, rapid-fire Q&A, and discussions on how citizen scientists and space enthusiasts can contribute to planetary defense. Whether you're a student, researcher, or simply curious about the cosmos, this webinar will equip you with actionable knowledge about Earth’s place in a dynamic solar system.

Why Attend?

Demystify NEOs – Learn how scientists predict threats and assess risks.Explore missions – Get insider insights on NASA’s DART, ESA’s Hera, and more.Interactive experience – Vote in live polls and pose questions to experts.Free resources – Receive curated materials (timelines, reading lists, career guides).

Hashtags & Handles

#PlanetaryDefense #AsteroidScience #SpaceSafety

Speakers Info

1. Namishka Mendonca

Namishka Mendonca is Planetary Science Research Student at Curtin University. Her research focuses on subsurface ice on Mars. Her interest in space is centered around understanding the geology of terrestrial planets and contributing her knowledge towards robotic and human space exploration. Apart from academics, she has communicated science to the public through social media and webinars. Additionally, she has experience in organizing space camps for school children. She is the social media coordinator for the Asia Pacific Oceania Space Association (APOSA) and within the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), she is part of the Space Exploration Project Group (SEPG), contributing her knowledge as a Space Science Expert for the Human Mars Exploration Project and has been running the Planetary Science Initiative in the project group.

2. Mahima Gehlot

Mahima is an aeronautical engineer currently working as a space educator at ESROMAGICA. She is guiding the next generation of space leaders and educating new scholars. She has made substantial contributions as Co-Lead of the Near-Earth Object Project at the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC),. Her technical work focuses on threat assessment modeling and international collaboration to safeguard Earth from NEO hazards. In addition to this role, she leads initiatives such as advocating for the designation of Earth as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to safeguard Low Earth Orbit from space debris, oversees various research projects including debris mitigation technologies, space exploration mission planning, and near-Earth object analysis at the Society of Space Education Research and Development (SSERD), and manages the world's largest analogue astronaut mission as research coordinator while mentoring aspiring space professionals as mentor for 2025 SSPI.

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