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B612 Foundation Commends Groundbreaking Work in Planetary Defense

On June 23, 2026, the B612 Foundation revealed the winner of the prestigious Schweickart Prize for Planetary Defense, celebrating a significant proposal that urges society to rethink planetary defense strategies. The award went to Brian P. Murphy and Richard E. Cannon from the University of Edinburgh for their innovative vision, "Untold Threats: A Worldwide Call to Defend New Frontiers."

Embracing New Challenges Beyond Earth

This year's winning proposal advocates for extending our concept of planetary defense beyond Earth itself. As human activities and vital infrastructure increasingly extend into cislunar space—the area between Earth and the Moon—the threats from potential impacts have similarly escalated. According to the B612 Foundation, safeguarding our future means acknowledging that our cosmic environment holds various dangers that could impact not just Earth, but also our satellite networks and lunar habitats.

Danica Remy, President of B612 and co-founder of Asteroid Day, shared insight on the importance of the awarded proposal: “Rusty Schweickart taught us that planetary defense is ultimately an act of stewardship. This year's proposal inspires us to protect the infrastructure and communities that will define our future beyond Earth. It challenges our traditional understanding and encourages bold, forward-thinking solutions.”

Proactive Measures for Space Infrastructure

The proposal detailed by Murphy and Cannon emphasizes the necessity of establishing an International Commission on Space Infrastructure Resilience (ICSIR). This body would conduct in-depth investigations into risks associated with meteoroid storms, asteroid deflections, mining activities, and the potential impact of lunar collisions. By assessing these challenges, the ICSIR aims to create comprehensive recommendations for the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, ultimately leading to the establishment of a new international coordinating entity called WARDEN (Warning-network for Asset Resilience from Dusts, Ejecta, and NEOs).

Brian Murphy expressed the urgency of adapting our planetary defense strategies to contemporary realities: “Our civilization's reliance on space infrastructure necessitates evolution in our planetary defense approach. We seek to ensure that humanity can expand into space safely and sustainably.”

A Call for Global Collaboration

The need for this international effort has also been echoed by Rusty Schweickart, an Apollo 9 astronaut and a co-founder of B612: “As human necessities move beyond the protective barrier of our atmosphere, we face an ever-increasing number of objects that could cause catastrophic damage to our assets.”

The winning proposal is scheduled to be presented through a public livestream event on June 23, with details available on the Schweickart Prize website for those wishing to learn more about the novel ideas that could shape our defense against extraterrestrial threats.

Honorable Mentions

B612 Foundation is also honoring several innovative proposals this year that displayed considerable merit in their creative approaches to planetary defense issues. Notable mentions include:

• - "Like Streaks Passing in the Night: A Novel One-Tracklet Earth Impactor Detection Pipeline for LSST" by Ian Chow (University of Washington)
• - "The Incremental Benefits of Eccentric Collisions in Asteroid Kinetic Deflection Missions" by Kinthong Lee (Tsinghua University)
• - "Project Pathfinder" by Finn McGeever and his team (Cranfield University)

These proposals collectively demonstrate how academic innovation and forward-thinking can contribute meaningfully to planetary defense.

Celebrating the Award

The official award ceremony and presentation of the museum-quality Schweickart Prize, which includes a $10,000 monetary award, will take place at Lowell Observatory on June 27, coinciding with Asteroid Day Arizona activities. Prominent figures such as Rusty Schweickart, alongside other astronauts and science communicators, will join in honoring the winning team.

The University of Edinburgh will also host a celebration to further recognize their groundbreaking work later this year.

For additional details about the Schweickart Prize and the exciting prospects for planetary defense, visit SchweickartPrize.org. Event information for Asteroid Day Arizona can be found at asteroiddayaz.com.

About B612 Foundation

Founded in 2002, B612 is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Earth from asteroid impacts through its research and educational initiatives. With backing from donors across 46 countries, B612 seeks to inspire a new generation of leaders in planetary defense. To learn more, visit B612foundation.org or follow them on various social media platforms.