Combined Emerging Capabilities for Near-Earth Objects (NEOs)

TL;DR

This paper evaluates the combined capabilities of emerging space and ground-based telescopes like TESS, JWST, WFIRST, NEOCam, and LSST for improved near-Earth objects detection and characterization, comparing them to current methods.

Contribution

It provides an assessment of how upcoming telescopes will enhance or replace existing NEO survey and characterization capabilities.

Findings

Emerging telescopes will significantly improve NEO detection rates.

New capabilities will enable better characterization of NEOs.

The combined use of space and ground telescopes offers comprehensive NEO monitoring.

Abstract

Assess the joint capabilities of emerging telescopes for near-Earth objects (NEOs) survey and characterization, and what they will add to the current capabilities or replace. NASA telescopes in prime mission, in development, or under study, and requested for this assessment, include: - The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) - The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) - The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) - The Near-Earth Object Camera (NEOCam). Also requested for this assessment is the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), an 8.4-meter ground-based telescope in development by the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy (DOE), with the capability to discover and catalogue NEOs.