However, NASA's Near-Earth Object Observation (NEOO) program, which tracks asteroids and comets that could potentially impact Earth, has faced budget cuts and operational challenges in recent years.
The NEOO program is responsible for detecting, tracking, and characterizing near-Earth objects (NEOs) - asteroids and comets whose orbits bring them within about 120 million miles of Earth. The program operates several telescopes and other instruments to scan the sky for NEOs, and it maintains a database of known NEOs and their trajectories.
In 2018, the NEOO program was facing a budget shortfall of about $10 million, which led to concerns about the program's ability to continue operating at its current level. The budget shortfall was eventually addressed, but the NEOO program continues to face challenges, including the need for more powerful telescopes and other instruments to track smaller and more distant NEOs.
In addition, the NEOO program has been criticized for not doing enough to communicate its findings to the public. Some critics argue that the program should be more proactive in educating the public about the potential risks posed by NEOs and in providing information about what can be done to mitigate these risks.
Despite these challenges, the NEOO program remains an important part of NASA's planetary defense efforts. The program plays a vital role in detecting and tracking NEOs, and it provides critical information that can help to protect Earth from potential impacts.
