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The woman tasked by NASA to defend Earth against asteroids is set to headline the Australian Space Summit 2025.
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Dr Kelly Fast is the space agency’s acting NASA Planetary Defense officer and will explain the technologies being created to help avoid an Armageddon-style event.
Fast joins a line-up of global industry figures, including former prime minister Scott Morrison; NASA’s chief technologist A.C. Charania; and Ted Mercer, CEO of the Virginia Spaceport Authority.
The fourth annual Australian Space Summit & Exhibition 2025 unites the sector’s most influential decision makers over two days at the ICC, Sydney, on Tuesday, 27 and Wednesday, 28 May. Click here to buy tickets.
In her virtual address, Fast will discuss what threats lurk in space and what recourse we actually have available if the worst happens. She’ll also discuss what role Australia can play as a nation in supporting this crucial mission.
In her position, Dr Fast oversees NASA’s famed Planetary Defense Coordination Office, where she manages US interagency and international efforts to study and plan a response to an asteroid impact.
Previously, she managed NASA’s Near-Earth Object Observations Program for a decade and led NASA’s Solar System Observations, Planetary Astronomy and Planetary Atmospheres research programs.
The announcement of her appearance comes after the “city-destroying” asteroid, 2024 YR4, was spotted late last year. The object at one point had a “small, but notable” chance of crashing into our planet in 2032 before the odds were later downgraded to just 0.004 per cent.
However, the research on its trajectory was led by NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office, which released regular updates to the space industry.
“While this asteroid no longer poses a significant impact hazard to Earth, 2024 YR4 provided an invaluable opportunity for experts at NASA and its partner institutions to test planetary defence science and notification processes,” the department said.
To hear from Fast, come along to the Australian Space Summit & Exhibition. Other major headliners include Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, the effective head of Australia’s Space Command; Enrico Palermo, head of the Australian Space Agency; and Dr Ulpia-Elena Botezatu, one of the most senior figures serving on the UN’s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
For more information on the agenda, click here.
To see the full list of speakers, click here.
Click here to learn more about the Australian Space Summit & Exhibition.
