NASA Accelerates Development of the NEO Surveyor, a Sentinel in Space for Earth's Defense

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California is a hub of activity, as engineering and assembly work on the Near-Earth Object Surveyor space telescope—NEO Surveyor for short—gains momentum. The spacecraft, pivotal for humanity's planetary defense efforts, is entering a critical phase with the integration of its primary mirror, heralding a milestone in the protection of our planet from asteroid impacts.

Crafted to hunt the most elusive comets and asteroids, some of which may threaten Earth, NEO Surveyor is a significant departure from traditional observatories. It is an infrared telescope, pioneering in its capacity to detect and characterize not just any space rocks, but the ones that often go unnoticed by other telescopes, including objects that lurk near the Sun. The NEO Surveyor will take residence a million miles away, stationed at the L1 Lagrange point, beneficial for stable observation and reduced thermal interference.

The procurement of the space telescope's mirrors, meticulously fabricated from solid aluminum, signifies a key advancement. These mirrors are engineered to an exemplary standard, surpassing the stringent demands of the mission. Previous months saw the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's clean room host the delicate assembly of the optical bench—a process that laid the groundwork for the mirrors' integration.

The revolutionary technology extends to the utilization of mercury-cadmium-telluride detectors tailor-made for infrared detection. These detectors, which are similar to those employed by the retired NEOWISE mission, boast the capacity to operate at high temperatures, removing the need for cryogenic cooling which has traditionally limited spacecraft lifespans.

With its single instrument—the telescope—NEO Surveyor's mission is singular in focus yet unparalleled in potential impact. The ambition is clear: to identify potentially hazardous objects years, even decades, before they might intersect Earth's trajectory. "We aim to build a spacecraft that can find, track, and characterize the objects with the greatest chance of hitting Earth," shared Amy Mainzer, the principal investigator and driving force behind the NEO Surveyor mission.

The instrument enclosure, a critical component to shield the telescope and its delicate systems, is now taking shape within JPL's historic High Bay 1—the birthplace of several of NASA's flagship missions. Made from a thermally conductive composite material, this enclosure will play a vital role in dissipating heat and ensuring clear observations.

Assembly of this vanguard in planetary defense is a collaborative orchestration, with contributions from highly regarded institutions and industrial partners, forming an impressive alliance united in the mission's success.

As the NEO Surveyor's assembly proceeds, the public is invited to witness progress through a live cam accessible round the clock—a rare glimpse into the craft of spacefaring instruments.

Upon its projected launch in late 2027, NEO Surveyor will stand sentinel in the expanse of space, primed to deepen our understanding of near-Earth objects and to uphold our vigilance against cosmic threats, aspiring to fulfill NASA's congressional mandate to identify 90% of near-Earth objects larger than 140 meters.