Near-Earth-Object Impact Network for European Talent Development
NEONET addresses the underestimated threat posed by small Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), which, though less catastrophic than large impactors, strike more frequently and can cause serious regional damage. Despite their risks, NEOs over 140 meters remain difficult to detect and are still understudied. The issue extends beyond science, affecting public safety and sectors such as insurance and emergency response, and is recognized in EU and UN initiatives. In response, NEONET will train 12 highly skilled Doctoral Candidates (DCs) and deliver frontier science that goes well beyond the current state of the art - advancing our understanding of small NEO populations, their physical properties, impact threats, and environmental consequences. The project is especially timely, given the upcoming planetary data revolution, new space missions and large sky surveys, the emerging field of imminent impactors, and the rare 2029 Apophis flyby. NEONET unites leading experts from planetary science, defense, and industry to enable a full-chain approach from discovery to impact modeling, while equipping DCs with broad, transferable skills to enhance their careers both in and beyond academia.
4/6 complete
Imported from OpenAIRE Germany | Grant 101308221.
Open sourceOverview
Grant agreement 101308221 | NEONET
Open sourceNEONET addresses the underestimated threat posed by small Near-Earth Objects (NEOs), which, though less catastrophic than large impactors, strike more frequently and can cause serious regional damage. Despite their risks, NEOs over 140 meters remain difficult to detect and are still understudied. The issue extends beyond science, affecting public safety and sectors such as insurance and emergency response, and is recognized in EU and UN initiatives. In response, NEONET will train 12 highly skilled Doctoral Candidates (DCs) and deliver frontier science that goes well beyond the current state of the art - advancing our understanding of small NEO populations, their physical properties, impact threats, and environmental consequences. The project is especially timely, given the upcoming planetary data revolution, new space missions and large sky surveys, the emerging field of imminent impactors, and the rare 2029 Apophis flyby. NEONET unites leading experts from planetary science, defense, and industry to enable a full-chain approach from discovery to impact modeling, while equipping DCs with broad, transferable skills to enhance their careers both in and beyond academia.