NASA Designs Telescope to Detect Earth-Dangerous Asteroids

The news released by Space.com shows that NASA's intention is to build and launch an infrared telescope into space that can predict up to two-thirds of asteroids that may be colliding with Earth in advance. The project is estimated at between $ 500 and 600 million to be implemented.

NASA Perspectives

The idea of ​​using this type of tool is associated with the limitation that current telescopes have. Currently, only 30% of objects at least 140 meters in diameter that can collide with the planet have been detected. Thus, the idea is that the new technology can identify 65% ​​of asteroids with this type of feature at first, and then increase to 90%.

The project entitled “Near-Earth Object Surveillance Mission” is expected to be a combination of a ground installation being built in Chile and the new infrared technology, dubbed NEOCam. The differential of this tool will be to find darker celestial bodies, undetectable in visible light, that are threatening to the planet. However, meeting these estimates requires Congress to approve a $ 150 million increase in NASA's annual planetary defense budget.

An important debate

Given that earlier this month, NASA was not able to identify, until the last minute, a football-sized asteroid that passed 65, 000 kilometers from Earth, investment in new technologies could be somewhat fundamental importance for the protection of the planet. Therefore, it is up to the US space agency and Congress to agree on the effectiveness of using a new tool, and how it can be used to defend the earth from potential threats.

NASA designs telescope to detect Earth-hazardous asteroids via TecMundo