• SpaceX will launch the NEO Surveyor mission on a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida in September 2027.
  • The space telescope will use infrared technology to detect both bright and dark asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth.
  • The mission aims to identify two-thirds of unknown near-Earth objects larger than 140 meters within five years.

NASA has selected SpaceX to launch its Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission, a crucial planetary defense initiative to identify potentially hazardous asteroids and comets.

The $100 million launch service contract will see the mission take flight on a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida no earlier than September 2027.

At the heart of the mission is a sophisticated 20-inch diameter telescope equipped with dual heat-sensing infrared wavelength capabilities.

This technology enables the detection of bright and dark asteroids, with the latter being particularly challenging to identify using current methods.

The telescope will focus on finding objects that come within 30 million miles of Earth's orbit.

The NEO Surveyor's primary objective is to complete a five-year survey that will identify at least two-thirds of unknown near-Earth objects larger than 140 meters – objects capable of causing significant regional damage if they were to impact Earth.

Beyond detection, the telescope's dual infrared imaging channels will provide crucial data about these objects' sizes, compositions, shapes, and orbital patterns.

The mission represents a collaborative effort across multiple organizations, with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory leading development alongside partners including BAE Systems SMS, Space Dynamics Laboratory, and Teledyne.

The University of Colorado, Boulder, will support operations, while the California Institute of Technology will manage data processing and analysis.

This initiative falls under NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office, established in 2016 to oversee the agency's planetary defense efforts, marking another significant step in protecting Earth from potential cosmic threats.

Edited By Annette George