A Decade Of Planetary Defense

NASA Asteroid Detection Mission Concludes After a Decade of Success

A Decade of Planetary Defense

NASA's Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) mission has come to an end after over a decade of successful asteroid and comet detection. The mission's primary objective was to search for near-Earth objects (NEOs) that could potentially pose a hazard to our planet. Over the course of its mission, NEOWISE detected and characterized thousands of NEOs, including over 100 comets. These discoveries have helped astronomers to better understand the distribution and composition of NEOs, and to better assess the risks they pose to Earth.

Mission Highlights

Some of the highlights of the NEOWISE mission include:

1. The discovery of over 100 comets, including several that are now known to be active.
2. The detection of over 100,000 asteroids, including over 1,000 that are larger than 1 kilometer in diameter.
3. The characterization of the physical properties of thousands of NEOs, including their size, shape, and composition.
4. The development of new techniques for detecting and tracking NEOs.

Conclusion

The NEOWISE mission has been a major success, and its discoveries have helped to make our planet safer. The mission has concluded, but its legacy will continue to benefit humanity for years to come.

NASA's NEOWISE Mission