Near-Earth asteroid missions

Near-Earth asteroid missions are space exploration efforts aimed at studying, monitoring, and sometimes interacting with asteroids that come close to Earth. These missions help us understand asteroid composition, structure, and orbits, which can inform planetary defense strategies to prevent potential impacts. Some missions involve spacecraft visiting, analyzing, or even attempting to alter an asteroid's course. These efforts improve scientific knowledge of our solar system's history and contribute to future resource utilization, such as mining for minerals. Overall, near-Earth asteroid missions combine scientific discovery with the goal of protecting Earth from possible asteroid threats.