This is NEO Surveyor, a NASA telescope that will detect asteroids dangerous to Earth.

Asteroids are one of the main threats to our planet. It is true that the main agencies in the world They work to prevent disaster.. This is the case, for example, with the DART mission, which changed the trajectory of the asteroid Dimorphos heading towards Earth.

It is clear that in order to act against these organs, it is first necessary to detect them, and the sooner this is done, the better. This way, experts will have much more time to respond to them. This is the goal NASA NEO Surveyor Space Telescope (Near-Earth Object) What It is planned to launch in 2027. with Spanish teams on board.

NEO Surveyor is an infrared telescope designed to aid NASA’s planetary defense efforts. This will improve our ability to detect and characterize at least 90% of potentially hazardous asteroids and comets. which are within 50 million kilometers of Earth’s orbit. Their timely detection could allow us, as we already mentioned, to redirect them if necessary.

Right now you are in very young phase of its development, since it started late last year. Specifically, they are in the preliminary phase of defining requirements with the client, a phase that will last two years, according to Miriam Catalan, head of development and sales at Thales Alenia Space.

This company with Headquarters in Tres CantosMadrid is participating in this program by providing communications equipment with which the telescope can communicate with the surface.

Here’s how it will work

When NEO Surveyor is off Earth, will go to Lagrange point L-1, located at a distance of 1.5 million kilometers in the direction of the Sun. From here, most of the Earth’s orbit can be observed at any given time. Thanks to the umbrella You will be able to look approximately 45 degrees from the Sun.although not directly to him.

According to NASA, the telescope is equipped with advanced detectors for observe two heat-sensitive infrared bands. This makes it possible to track hard-to-reach near-Earth objects that reflect little visible light, such as dark asteroids and comets.

At the moment it is known that the NEO Surveyor telescope It will weigh about 1300 kilograms.will have a 40 cm sensor and The mission will last 12 years when it comes out in 2027.