NASA partners with SpaceX for the launch of the NEO Surveyor mission, designed to track hazardous asteroids and comets. The launch is scheduled for 2027.
 |
| SpaceX will launch NASA’s NEO Surveyor in 2027 to enhance Earth’s defense against hazardous space objects, playing a key role in planetary protection efforts. Image: NASA |
Washington, DC, USA — February 22, 2025:
NASA has awarded SpaceX the contract to launch its Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission, marking a significant step in the agency's efforts to protect Earth from potential asteroid impacts. Set for launch no earlier than September 2027, the mission will be deployed aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida.
The contract, valued at around $100 million, covers launch services and other mission-related expenses. The NEO Surveyor mission will feature a specialized 20-inch infrared telescope designed to detect both bright and elusive dark asteroids, which are particularly challenging to identify with current technology. This initiative is central to NASA’s planetary defense strategy, focusing on the discovery and characterization of near-Earth objects (NEOs)—asteroids and comets that come within 30 million miles of Earth's orbit.
Using two heat-sensitive infrared imaging channels, the telescope will provide vital data on NEOs, including their size, shape, composition, and orbital characteristics. Over the course of its five-year survey, the NEO Surveyor mission will aim to detect at least two-thirds of NEOs larger than 140 meters—objects that could cause substantial regional damage if they were to impact Earth.
Managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the mission is supported by numerous aerospace and engineering companies, including BAE Systems and Teledyne, and academic institutions like the University of Colorado and UCLA. NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office will oversee the program, while NASA’s Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center will manage the launch service.
The NEO Surveyor mission is part of NASA's broader planetary defense efforts, which aim to identify and mitigate threats from space objects. By advancing detection technology, NASA continues to bolster its commitment to safeguarding Earth from potential asteroid collisions.