NASA has signed a contract with SpaceX to launch the new planetary defense telescope, NEO Surveyor, which will replace the outdated NEOWISE. The launch is scheduled for September 2027, and the observatory will be positioned at the Lagrange Point L1, ensuring stable observation conditions.
NEO Surveyor is equipped with two 50 cm infrared sensors capable of accurately determining the size and composition of asteroids. Its key feature is the ability to detect objects approaching Earth from the direction of the Sun—an area that was previously inaccessible for observations.
The observatory will be protected by special shields that will extend its lifespan and enhance resistance to solar radiation. NEO Surveyor is expected to identify at least one-third of the still-unknown potentially hazardous asteroids within a 50-million-kilometer radius of Earth, with a particular focus on objects over 140 meters in diameter.
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