NEOSSat Asteroid and Debris Telescope (Canada)
Canada's NEOSSat circles Earth every 100 minutes, scanning near the Sun for asteroids and comets and tracking satellites and debris (CSA).
Image: NASA/Bill Ingalls (NHQ202007180001, comet NEOWISE and the ISS, July 18, 2020).
Last reviewed: 2 sources cited
A suitcase-sized satellite was the world's first space telescope built to hunt asteroids and space debris.
NEOSSat is the world's first space An instrument that collects light (or other energy) to see faraway things more clearly. Glossary dedicated to detecting and tracking A rocky object that orbits the Sun, much smaller than a planet. Most are in a belt between Mars and Jupiter. Glossary, comets, satellites and Old satellites, rocket parts and broken pieces left in orbit that no longer do anything useful. Glossary (CSA).
Source: Canadian Space Agency, NEOSSat
Explain Like I'm 10
- Some space rocks, called asteroids, pass close to Earth.
- NEOSSat is a small Canadian telescope in space that looks for them, even near the Sun.
- It also watches satellites and space junk to help avoid crashes in The curved path an object takes as it travels around a planet, moon or star, like a satellite circling Earth. Glossary.
The Five W's of NEOSSat
Who
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC).
Source: Canadian Space Agency, NEOSSat
What
A microsatellite telescope that tracks asteroids, comets, satellites and debris, and helps confirm exoplanets.
Source: Canadian Space Agency, NEOSSat
Why
Above the weather and the day-night cycle, it can work 24/7 and spot objects hard to see from the ground.
Source: Canadian Space Agency, NEOSSat
Connected Solutions
- NEO Surveyor (NASA) An infrared telescope to find hazardous asteroids.
Impact Statement
Agency solution · active
NEOSSat adds to the international effort to catalogue An asteroid or comet whose orbit brings it close to Earth's path around the Sun. Scientists track them to make sure none is on course to hit us. Glossary and comets, and its astronomy data are open (CSA).
Source: Canadian Space Agency, NEOSSat
For Further Information: Canadian Space Agency, NEOSSat
NEOSSat imaged comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) on 23 July 2020 (CSA).
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Tracking space objects helps keep Canadian and international satellites, which people rely on, safe (CSA).
Source: Canadian Space Agency, NEOSSat
For Nature
Knowing where asteroids are is the first step in protecting Earth and all life on it from an impact (CSA).
Source: Canadian Space Agency, NEOSSat
Learn More About NEOSSat
Want to go deeper? The Canadian Space Agency has the full mission story.
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