The Near-Earth Object Surveyor (NEO Surveyor) is a mission led by the University of Arizona that aims to discover and characterize potentially hazardous asteroids and comets orbiting near Earth. This ambitious endeavor is a response to the 2005 George E. Brown, Jr. Near-Earth Object Survey Act, which mandated NASA to detect and catalog at least 90% of near-Earth objects (NEOs) larger than 140 meters in diameter.
Mission Objectives
The primary objective of NEO Surveyor is to identify and characterize the majority of potentially hazardous NEOs, which are asteroids and comets with orbits that bring them within 30 million miles of Earth’s orbit. These objects pose a risk of colliding with our planet, and early detection is crucial for developing mitigation strategies.
In addition to its planetary defense role, NEO Surveyor will contribute to our understanding of the origin and evolution of the solar system’s asteroids. By studying the physical properties, compositions, and orbits of NEOs, scientists can gain insights into the formation and eventual fate of these celestial bodies.
Spacecraft and Instrumentation
NEO Surveyor is an infrared space telescope designed to operate from a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point, approximately 1 million miles from Earth. This vantage point allows the telescope to survey regions of space that are difficult to observe from Earth due to the Sun’s glare.
The spacecraft features a 50-centimeter (20-inch) telescope equipped with two infrared imaging channels that operate simultaneously in the 4-5.2 and 6-10 micrometer wavelength ranges. This dual-band capability enables the detection of both bright and dark asteroids, as well as the characterization of their sizes, compositions, and other physical properties.
Survey Strategy
NEO Surveyor’s survey strategy is optimized to discover and track NEOs with sufficient observational arcs to reliably distinguish them from more distant objects that do not pose an impact threat. Over the course of its five-year baseline survey, the mission is expected to discover approximately 200,000 to 300,000 new NEOs, ranging in size from about 10 meters to several kilometers in diameter.
The survey will focus on regions within 45 degrees of the Sun, where Earth-like orbits are most likely to be found. By operating in the infrared, NEO Surveyor can detect asteroids based on their thermal emission, regardless of their illumination by the Sun, providing a significant advantage over ground-based optical surveys.
Mission Timeline
NEO Surveyor is currently in the development phase, with a launch readiness date set for no later than June 2028. The mission is being developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in collaboration with the University of Arizona, which leads the survey investigation.
After launch, NEO Surveyor will undergo a commissioning phase before commencing its five-year baseline survey. The mission has a goal of achieving at least 90% completeness in detecting NEOs larger than 140 meters within 10 to 12 years of operation.
Significance and Impact
The NEO Surveyor mission is a critical step in advancing NASA’s planetary defense efforts and ensuring the long-term safety of our planet. By providing early warning of potential impact threats, the mission will enable the development of mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
Moreover, the data collected by NEO Surveyor will contribute to our understanding of the solar system’s formation and evolution, as well as inform future robotic and human exploration missions to asteroids and comets.
With its cutting-edge technology and ambitious goals, NEO Surveyor represents a significant investment in planetary defense and scientific discovery, underscoring humanity’s commitment to safeguarding our planet and expanding our knowledge of the cosmos.
