(ESA / Pierre Carril https://bit.ly/3IK2KOC)
The European Space Agency (ESA) will build and launch into space in 2030 the NEOMIR (Near Earth Object Mission in the Infra-Red) infrared observatory.
The purpose of the telescope will be to monitor asteroids dangerous for the Earth approaching from the direction of the Sun.
NEOMIR will operate near the first Lagrange point in the Sun-Earth system.
Currently, the search for asteroids hazardous to the Earth is mainly carried out by ground-based automated systems that are capable of detecting very dim objects.
However, asteroids that move near the Sun relative to the Earth observer are still elusive and therefore very dangerous.
This is due to the fact that the observation time for them is limited to short periods at twilight, otherwise the optical system can be damaged.
An initial NEOMIR feasibility study was conducted in 2021, and the mission is currently in the early stages of project development.
The observatory will be equipped with a telescope with a diameter of half a meter and a large focal plane
The device will also have two infrared detectors operating in the wavelength range of five to ten micrometers.
The NEOMIR observatory will operate in a halo orbit around the first Lagrange point in the Sun-Earth system.
Its goal will be the constant monitoring of asteroids approaching the Earth from the side of the Sun, less than one kilometer in size.
In particular, bodies that are 20 meters or larger must be detected by NEOMIR at least three weeks prior to Earth approach.
The observatory is expected to go into space in 2030 from the Kourou launch site using the future Ariane 6-2 heavy launch vehicle.
Sources:
- ESA: https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Planetary_Defence/NEOMIR_finding_risky_asteroids_outshone_by_Sun
- IEEE: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/a-new-space-observatory-will-detect-asteroids-hidden-in-suns-glare
Wanna relax, sleep or improve your focus?
Check this rain sound video: https://bit.ly/rainsfocus
Thank you, friend!
I'm @steem.history, who is steem witness.
Thank you for witnessvoting for me.
please click it!
(Go to https://steemit.com/~witnesses and type fbslo at the bottom of the page)
The weight is reduced because of the lack of Voting Power. If you vote for me as a witness, you can get my little vote.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Upvoted! Thank you for supporting witness @jswit.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit