The Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission has reached a major milestone, successfully passing its Critical Design Review (CDR). This achievement marks a crucial step toward launching NASA’s next-generation infrared space telescope dedicated to detecting and characterizing hazardous asteroids and comets.

With this milestone, NEO Surveyor advances into the final stages of development, bringing it closer to its goal of strengthening planetary defense efforts. The mission will enhance our ability to detect potentially hazardous near-Earth objects, supporting NASA’s commitment to planetary protection.

For more details, read the full NASA announcement here.