NASA has officially completed the NEOWISE (Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) mission, closing an important chapter in planetary defense. Originally launched as WISE (Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer) in December 2009, the mission’s primary goal was to scan the entire infrared sky for seven months. Following the completion of that mission, NASA expanded the spacecraft’s operations under the name NEOWISE, shifting its focus to detecting and tracking asteroids and comets, particularly those that could pose a threat to Earth.
NEOWISE helped create maps of the entire sky for the scientific community
During its extended mission, NEOWISE exceeded expectations in its contributions to planetary defense. The spacecraft discovered more than 3,000 near-Earth objects, including 215 that were discovered for the first time, NASA said report. In addition, NEOWISE identified 25 new comets, one of which, Comet C/2020 F3, became visible to the naked eye in the summer of 2020. By the time NEOWISE was decommissioned, it had recorded an astonishing 1.45 million infrared measurements of more than 44,000 objects in the solar system, creating comprehensive maps of the entire sky that will benefit the scientific community for years to come.
The decision to end the NEOWISE mission was prompted by the spacecraft’s gradual descent to a lower orbit. Increasing solar activity was heating Earth’s upper atmosphere, resulting in increased drag on the satellite. Without a propulsion system to maintain its orbit, NEOWISE was expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up in late 2024.
Throughout its operational lifetime, NEOWISE has provided crucial data that has significantly improved NASA’s understanding of Earth’s near-Earth environment. Its findings have not only advanced knowledge, but also laid the foundation for future missions. One such mission is NEO Surveyor, a future infrared space telescope specifically designed to detect some of Earth’s most elusive near-Earth objects, including dark asteroids and comets that reflect little visible light.
As NASA bids farewell to the NEOWISE mission, the agency celebrates its success and looks to the future of planetary defense. The legacy of NEOWISE will endure, providing a solid foundation for continued efforts to monitor and understand objects approaching Earth. The contributions of this mission will be invaluable as new technologies and missions build on the knowledge gained from NEOWISE.
