The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) is pleased to invite the public to the 9th Planetary Defense Conference (PDC), which will take place from May 5 to 9, 2025, at the Protea Hotel by Marriott Stellenbosch & Conference Centre in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa. The conference aims to advance discussions on the technologies, missions, and collaborations essential for defending Earth from potential asteroid and comet threats.
The 2025 PDC will cover various topics, from scientific advancements in planetary defence to international efforts to mitigate impact hazards. The event will include panel discussions featuring decision-makers, legal experts, disaster managers, and specialists in planetary defence. Key sessions will also showcase recent space missions, run a hypothetical asteroid threat exercise, and explore new policy developments.
Key Session Topics
- Ongoing and Upcoming Mission Highlights
- Hypothetical Asteroid Threat Exercise
- Key International and Policy Developments
- Near-Earth Object (NEO) Discovery
- Near-Earth Object (NEO) Characterization
- Deflection / Disruption Modeling & Testing
- Space Mission & Campaign Design
- Impact Effects & Consequences
- Disaster Management & Impact Response
- Public Education and Communication
- The Decision to Act: Political, Legal, Social, and Economic Aspects
Call for Abstracts Now Open
Authors interested in presenting their research at the conference are encouraged to submit their abstracts. Students may also indicate their interest in participating in the student competition during the abstract submission process.
All abstracts must be submitted in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format using the provided templates (available in MS Word, LaTeX, Google Docs, or Overleaf). Authors whose abstracts are accepted for oral or poster presentations may also submit an extended or full paper for inclusion in the conference proceedings.
While submitting a full paper is optional, it is required for those who wish to have their work considered for a special 2025 PDC issue of Acta Astronautica.
Submission Deadline: November 29, 2024
Authors will be notified of their acceptance by January 20, 2025.
Click here to learn more about how to submit abstracts.
Important Dates
- August 1, 2024: Hypothetical asteroid impact exercise scenario published on NASA’s Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) Website
- September 3, 2024: Abstract submission opens
- November 29, 2024: Abstract submission deadline
- January 13, 2025: Author acceptance notifications
- April 4, 2025: Deadline for extended abstracts, full papers, posters, and presentations
- May 5-9, 2025: Planetary Defense Conference at the Protea Hotel by Marriott Stellenbosch & Conference Centre
For more information and to register for the conference, please visit the official [PDC Conference Website].
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