The United States has reiterated its commitment to mitigating the risks posed by Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), as outlined in a statement by U.S. Representative Kevin Conole during the 62nd Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in Vienna on February 7, 2025.
"The United States appreciates the opportunity to share its most recent activities for discovery and research on Near-Earth Objects, or NEOs," Conole stated. NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office continues to lead efforts to detect, track, and study hazardous NEOs, in collaboration with international partners.
A significant milestone has been reached with NASA-sponsored efforts, discovering over 37,000 near-Earth asteroids, including more than 11,150 larger than 140 meters, and over 850 that exceed 1 kilometer. This milestone highlights the progress in understanding celestial bodies that may pose a threat.
The development of the NEO Surveyor infrared space telescope is a key project aimed at accelerating the discovery and characterization of potentially hazardous NEOs. The mission, expected to launch in September 2027, is designed to fulfill congressional directives of discovering 90 percent of NEOs 140 meters and larger within a decade of its inception.
International cooperation was emphasized during the fifth U.S. interagency hypothetical asteroid impact tabletop exercise held last year. Participants included NASA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of State Office of Space Affairs, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), and other space agencies. Conole noted these exercises help inform and assess national and international responses to potential asteroid threats.
In another achievement, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission successfully demonstrated an asteroid deflection technique in September 2022, marking the first planetary defense test.
The U.S. is actively involved with the IAWN and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG), fostering international cooperation. A recent NASA analysis revealed that a near-Earth asteroid, 2024 YR4, has over a 1% chance of impacting Earth on December 22, 2032. The IAWN promptly notified the UNOOSA, which circulated the information to UN member states in January 2025.
UNOOSA's support and the UN General Assembly's declaration of 2029 as the International Year of Asteroid Awareness and Planetary Defense were acknowledged. This declaration coincides with the anticipated close approach of the asteroid Apophis, offering both scientific and educational opportunities. NASA's OSIRIS-APEX mission is set to explore Apophis after its approach.
"The United States continues its efforts to detect and avoid the rare but potentially globally devastating effects of an asteroid impact," Conole concluded, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in addressing space-based threats.