Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) are rocky bodies that orbit close to Earth's path, with over 30,000 identified, posing potential impact hazards.

Significant advances in asteroid detection have been made, with over 90% of NEOs larger than 1 kilometer discovered, which has helped reduce the risks of global impacts.

NASA and other space agencies monitor NEOs through programs like the Near-Earth Object Surveillance Mission, aiming to provide early collision warnings.

International protocols emphasize the urgent need for rapid-response spacecraft for asteroids around 50 meters in diameter, capable of causing regional damage but often going undetected until close to Earth.

Even after advanced initiatives like NEO Surveyor and the Rubin Observatory, many 50-meter NEOs will remain undiscovered until they are nearly upon us, highlighting the need for quick reconnaissance missions.

The core principle of planetary defense is preparedness for any threatening asteroids, emphasizing the need for technology tailored to quickly study small, short-warning-time objects.

A paper by Nancy L. Chabot and her team from Johns Hopkins University advocates for a planetary defense flyby mission that can quickly reach these small NEOs and assess their potential threat to Earth.

Key challenges include weather, daylight effects, and the dark nature of many asteroids, which hinder detection efforts.

Detection for smaller asteroids, particularly those around 140 meters, remains challenging, with less than 40% currently cataloged due to limitations in ground-based surveys.

The mission aims to gather crucial data on these asteroids while facing technical challenges such as high-speed flybys and data collection at large solar phase angles.