Duration: February 2025 – August 2028
Call: SSA HE-NEO-01 Increase Networking of MS Assets – Physical Properties Observations
Budget: 700,000.00 €
The NEO Physical Observations and Properties Simulation (NEOPOPS) is a European Space Agency (ESA) funded project dedicated to the physical characterization of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). Led by the National Institute for Astrophysics – Astronomical Observatory of Rome (INAF – OAR).
NEOPOPS builds directly upon the legacy of previous large-scale EU-funded projects, such as NEOShield-2 and NEOROCKS. These past experiences demonstrated that addressing the critical challenges of NEO impact monitoring and mitigation requires a unified, global effort. Improving our understanding of small NEOs requires highly coordinated scientific research and innovative technical advancements to minimise the threat of unannounced impacts.
NEOPOPS brings together 6 Partners from 4 Countries :
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Italy
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Czech Republic
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Uk
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France
Project objective
To address these challenges, NEOPOPS introduces a new approach focused on:
- Organising optimised follow-up observations to secure high-quality data and derive the physical properties of NEOs, with strict priority given to potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) and imminent impactors.
- Improving statistical analysis, computer simulations, and physical modelling to better understand NEO characteristics—a crucial step for designing highly effective impact mitigation strategies.
- Fostering European collaboration on NEO characterisation.
- Cooperate with ESA to significantly enhance public understanding and perception of the asteroid hazard, counteracting the spreading of fake news and unjustified alarms.
The role of Resolvo
Resolvo participates in the partnership as leader of some project management tasks within Work Package 1 – Project Office
