Yes, it’s time for the 33rd Meeting of the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG).
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/sbag/meetings/sbagjune2025/
See the schedule:
https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/sbagjune2025/technical_program/?session_no=101
Really, the overarching theme was the strangling of planetary science, and not just at small bodies. We are talking about the dismantling of much of the national space probe infrastructure. Again and again, investigators mentioned the penny-wise, pound-foolish attempt to cut budget lines, while collapsing the industry.
In other news:
– Tom Statler briefed us on the general NASA PSD (Planetary Science Division). Highlights were given, somewhat redundant to later presentations. The NF5 call (next New Frontiers mission) is expected soon, but the next Discovery Program call will be late. LPSC 2026 will go on, with or without NASA approval/funding.
– Kelly Fast gave an update on Planetary Defense- nothing new if you’ve been paying attention. What’s new is 2024 YR4 appearing, and resulting in a field demo of planetary defense ops.
– Daniella Scalice brought the astrobiology viewpoint. There is significant debate on evidence standards, reporting thresholds, and media relations. Example: the COLD standard: Confidence Of Life Detection. This forms a Planetary Defense analogy: what is transparency, and what is irresponsible hype?
– John Rayner briefs us on IRTF– the SPECTRE instrument is approved and under construction
– Vishnu Reddy reported on the 2025 Planetary Defense Conference. This included exercises, Apophis telescopic observations, comet defense, and 2025 FA22.
– Detlef Koschny represented SMPAG (Space Mission Planning and Analysis Group)- mentioning threat reconnaissance, mitigation options, coordination problems, and an Advances in Astronomy Special Issue.
– Richard Binzel spoke on the Apophis T-4 Years meeting, and the zeroing of OSIRIS-APEX in the FY2026 budget.
– Davide Farnocchia gave an overview of the 2024 YR4 timeline, such as its impact probability trend. YR4 followed a typical curve, though the odds were a bit higher.
– Tom Statler reiterated Apophis preparations for 2029, with science requirements and success criteria- handwaving and gawking isn’t enough.
– John Brophy presented Ion Beam Deflection- using a spacecraft’s “exhaust” (hypervelocity plasma) to gently push an asteroid off course.
– Carol Raymond spoke of Airbus ESM secondary missions. The requirements of a manned lunar mission are so high, its support spacecraft will have reserve propellant afterwards. This ESM spacecraft can then be reused for missions, from possibly Mercury, to possibly Saturn.