NASA's NEO Surveyor Sunshade Under Inspection
Photo: NASA / NASA/Bill IngallsA technician was seen inspecting the substantial sunshade of NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission, according to an image released by NASA on October 26, 2026. This sunshade structure is designed to keep the infrared space telescope cool while it searches for near-Earth asteroids and comets.
The sunshade stands 20 feet (6 meters) tall and measures 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide at its base. In addition to temperature regulation, the structure will also supply power to the spacecraft.
Once deployed in space, the NEO Surveyor is expected to identify asteroids and comets that are particularly challenging to detect, including those situated in the direction of the Sun. This specific region of the sky poses difficulties for ground-based optical telescopes when conducting searches.
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