NASA Selects SpaceX to Launch NEO Surveyor Mission

NASA has selected SpaceX to launch the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission, scheduled for no earlier than September 2027. The mission will use a Falcon 9 rocket to deploy a space telescope that will detect asteroids and comets that could threaten Earth, costing approximately $100 million.

The NEO Surveyor will carry a 50-centimeter infrared telescope to identify near-Earth objects (NEOs) within 30 million miles of Earth’s orbit, aiming to detect at least two-thirds of NEOs larger than 140 meters. This mission is part of NASA’s broader planetary defense efforts to enhance early detection and tracking of hazardous space objects.

The mission will use infrared imaging to survey asteroid sizes, compositions, and orbits over five years, helping refine impact predictions. NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office will oversee the project, with collaboration from institutions like BAE Systems, Space Dynamics Laboratory, and Teledyne.

The NEO Surveyor will play a key role in planetary defense, improving the ability to detect threats that are challenging for visible-light telescopes to spot.

Blog Reference: Space Insider - https://spaceinsider.tech/2025/02/25/nasa-awards-spacex-launch-contract-for-neo-surveyor-mission/