NASA has selected SpaceX to launch its Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor spacecraft, a mission designed to detect asteroids and comets that could pose a threat to Earth. The launch is scheduled for no earlier than September 2027, taking off from Florida’s Space Coast aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

The contract, valued at approximately $100 million, covers launch and related services. Once operational, the NEO Surveyor will play a key role in planetary defense, identifying potentially hazardous objects before they become a danger. The mission will be managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, with contributions from various scientific institutions.

Mission Objectives & Capabilities

NASA plans to position the NEO Surveyor at Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), located 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. From this location, the spacecraft will scan space using a 50-centimeter infrared telescope, capable of detecting objects in two infrared wavelengths.

This advanced detection system will allow the spacecraft to spot both bright and dark asteroids, including those difficult to observe from Earth-based telescopes. The mission’s primary goal is to identify at least two-thirds of undiscovered NEOs that are 140 meters or larger—objects large enough to cause regional devastation if they were to collide with Earth.

Strengthening Planetary Defense Efforts

The NEO Surveyor mission builds on previous planetary defense initiatives involving SpaceX.

🚀 In 2021, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) launched on a Falcon 9 rocket, successfully impacting the asteroid Dimorphos to test whether an asteroid’s trajectory could be altered.

🚀 In 2024, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Hera mission, also aboard a Falcon 9, to study the aftermath of DART’s impact on the Didymos asteroid system.

These missions are critical steps toward developing technologies that could mitigate future asteroid threats, ensuring Earth’s safety from potential collisions.

What’s Next?

With the NEO Surveyor mission now officially moving forward, scientists are eager to see how this next phase of asteroid detection and planetary defense unfolds.

Could this technology be the key to preventing a future asteroid impact? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for more updates! 🌍☄️🚀