The winning proposal, titled Untold Threats: A Worldwide Call to Defend New Frontiers, argues that the rapid expansion of satellites, lunar infrastructure, and communications systems necessitates a shift in how humanity manages space-based risks. Murphy and Cannon propose the creation of an International Commission on Space Infrastructure Resilience (ICSIR) to identify vulnerabilities. They also outline a permanent coordinating body, WARDEN—Warning-network for Asset Resilience from Dusts, Ejecta, and NEOs—designed to monitor hazards that threaten the Earth-Moon system.
Edinburgh researchers win Schweickart Prize for cislunar defense plan
University of Edinburgh researchers Brian P. Murphy and Richard E. Cannon have been awarded the 2026 Schweickart Prize for their proposal to extend planetary defense beyond Earth. Their work advocates for a new international framework to protect critical infrastructure from meteoroid storms and space-based industrial hazards.
Danica Remy, president of the B612 Foundation, noted that the proposal moves the conversation from terrestrial protection to the stewardship of humanity's expanding footprint. Rusty Schweickart, Apollo 9 astronaut and co-founder emeritus of B612, emphasized that as human activity moves further from the protective shield of the atmosphere, the risk of damage from passing objects rises significantly. The authors will receive a $10,000 award during a ceremony at Lowell Observatory on June 27, which coincides with Asteroid Day Arizona festivities.
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